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FIRST LESSONS 



IN 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 



J, M^BONNELL, d.d. 

PRESIDENT OF WESLEYAN FEMALE COLLEGE, MACON, GA. 




LOUISVILLE, KY.: 

JOHN P. MOKTON AND COMPANY. 

1871. 



X\v\ 






Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1871, 

By JOHN P. MORTON AND COMPANY, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



ELECTROTYPED BY 

EOBERT ROWELL, 

LOUISVILLE, KY. 



PEEFAOE. 



The exclusive aim of this little book is practical 
usefulness. It does not profess to be a complete and 
exhaustive text-book on the art of composition. It 
proposes to embody only the first lessons in that art, 
in their most available order, and interspersed with 
exercises in original composing and letter-writing. It 
is compiled expressly for use in grammar schools and 
the preparatoiy departments of schools of higher grade. 
Accuracy is, of course, aimed at every-where; but be- 
yond that, all graces of style are sacrificed to plainness, 
easiness to be understood. It is hoped that teachers, 
on trial, will find it suitable for younger classes. 

J. M. B. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

Lesson. Preliminary Lesson, 7 

I. — The Limits of Sentences, 10 

II. — Original Composition with guiding Questions, . .11 
III.— The Full Stops, 13 

THE USE OF CAPITALS. 

IV. — The Indicating of Proper Nouns, . . . .17 
V. — The Indicating of Incorporated Sentences, . . 19 

VI.— The Eules for Capitals, .22 

Original Composition, as before, .... 23 
VII.— Quotation Marking, 23 

DERIVATIVE ORTHOGRAPHY. 

VIII.— Derivation, 26 

IX.— The Inflectional Sumxes, 27 

X. — Original Composition, as before, \ . . .29 

XL— The Inflection S changed to ES, .... 29 

XIL— The Elision of Final Silent E, 32 

XIII.— The Doubling of Final Consonants, ... 35 

XIV. — Inflection of "Words ending in 7, . . . . 38 

XV. — Original Composition, as before, .... 41 

XVI. — Synonyms, ......... 42 

PROPRIETIES OF STYLE. 
XVII.— Diction, 44 

XVIIL— XX.— Propriety of Diction, .... 46-52 
XXI. — Original Composition, as before, .... 52 

(5) 



6 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

Lesson. page. 

XXII.— XXIV.— Propriety of Diction, continued, . 53-58 

XXV.— XXVI.— Improprieties in Use of Prepositions, 58-65 

XXVII. — Original Composition, as before, ... 66 

XXVIII. — XXX. — Confounding of Paronyms, . . 66-74 

XXXI.— Original Composition, as before, ... 74 

XXXII.— XXXIII.— Confounding of Paronyms, . 75-80 

XXXIV.— Questions for Eeview, No. I., . . . . 80 

XXXV.— Purity of Diction. — Provincialisms, ... 82 

XXXVI.— The Use of Foreign Expressions, ... 85 

XXXVII.— Obsolete Words, 90 

XXXVIII.— Unauthorized Words, 93 

XXXIX.— Ill-formed Words, . . . . . .95 

XL. — The Proprieties of Letter-writing, . . .99 

XLI —Chastity of Diction, .101 

XLIL— Precision, . 106 

XLIIL— Euphony of Diction, .109 

XLIV. — Narration and Description, ... . . Ill 

PUNCTUATION. 

XLV. — Subject-pointing, 113 

XLVL— Compound Terms, 117 

XLVIL— Transpositions, . . . ' . . . .121 

XLVIII. — Parentheticals and Interpositions, . . .. 123 

XLIX. — Independents and Contextuais, . . . 127 

L. — Enumerations, . . . . . . . 129 

LI. — Complex Sentences, 131 

LII. — Compound Sentences, 137 

LIII. — Varieties of Compound Sentences, . . . 140 

LI V.— The Use of the Dash, 145 

LV. — Quotation Marks, ... .... 149 

LVL— The Style of Letters, . ? . 152 

LVII. — Questions for Keview, No. II., J * . 153 

Directions to the Teacher, . . . 156 

Appendix. — Table of Synonyms, . . . 159 






FXKST LESSORS 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 



PRELIMINARY LESSON, 

WITH EXERCISES INDEFINITELY CONTINUED. 

Pupil. What is the first thing to be clone in learning 
to write a composition ? 

Teacher. Yon must first learn to copy off in writing 
any continuous discourse. 

Pupil. Do you mean that I should copy off a sermon? 

Teacher. A sermon is one kind of discourse ; but the 
word discourse is applied to many other forms of compo- 
sition. When a person speaks or writes several sentences 
one after another, on any subject, he makes a discourse. 

Pupil. Then, my last letter to Father, about going 
home at Christmas, was a discourse; was it not? and 
that beautiful piece that I recited yesterday from my 
reading-book is a discourse ; am I not right ? 

Teacher. Yes ; and every piece in your reading-book 
is a discourse, or a part of a discourse. 

(7) 



8 FIRST LESSONS IN 

Pupil. Is this conversation that we are now carrying 
on a discourse ? 

Teacher. Yes, but it is not continuous ; it is broken 
or interrupted, as all dialogue must be. You would better 
learn to write continuous discourse. 

Pupil. Well, a letter is continuous discourse; is it not? 

Teacher. Yes ; but before you attempt to write a let- 
ter of your own, you would do well to learn by practice 
to copy correctly printed discourse in script. 

Pupil. What is script ? 

Teacher. Script letters are the kind of letters we 
make when we write with a pen or pencil. You see they 
have a different shape from printed letters. 

Pupil. Well, must I just take my reading-book, and 
copy out the pieces ? 

Teacher. That is just what is to be done. But you 
would better let your teacher select for you, so that you 
may have the easiest ones first. 

You must copy not only the words, but all the punc- 
tuation marks, the commas, semicolons, colons, periods, 
exclamation and interrogation points, dashes, and quota- 
tion marks. The capitals must come just where they 
come in the book. 

Pupil. Must I make the lines of the same length that 
they have in the printed text ? 

Teacher. That is almost impossible. You must make 
the length of your script lines to suit the width of the 
paper you write on ; and when you come to the right- 
hand edge, you must turn back and begin a new line, 
regardless of how the lines are divided in the book. 

Pupil. But suppose I have written almost to the edge 
of the paper, and the next word is too long to go in the 
space that is left, what shall I do ? 

Teacher. You may write a part of the word in that 
space, and write the rest of the word at the beginning 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 9 

of the next line. But you must be careful to divide 
the word between the syllables, and never cut a syllable 
in two. 

The sign that it is only a part of a word that is put at 
the end of a line, and not the whole word, is a hyphen 
placed after the first part, at the very end of the line. 

Pupil. What is a hyphen f 

Teacher. A hyphen is a short straight mark, such as 
you find between the parts of compound words. 

Here you see it between the two parts of the words 

pen-holder, doll-"baby, dog-ears. 

Pupil. Why, I call that a dash. 

Teacher. But it is not a dash. A dash is much longer, 
and is never used to separate the parts of compound 
words, or words broken to fit the length of the line; you 
will learn the use of the dash after a while. But for the 
present, remember that the proper name for the short 
mark that indicates a broken or disparted word is — 
hyphen; and that a hyphen is always to be placed where 
the want of space requires you to write one or more of 
the syllables of a word in the next line. 

Tou may now copy a piece from your reading-book. 

Let the teacher select the piece to be copied, and repeat the exercise again and 
again, if necessary, until the pupil becomes familiar with the mechanical execution 
of writing an ordinary piece of composition, using capitals and punctuation marks, 
not from any knowledge as yet of the rules for their insertion, but blindly following 
the guidance of the printed page. He must become adept in this, before he advances 
to any other exercise. 



10 FIRST LESSONS IN 

LESSON I. 

THE LIMIT-MARKS OF SENTENCES. 

Teacher. How can you tell the beginning of a sen- 
tence in continuous discourse ? 

Pupil. The first word of each sentence begins with a 
capital letter. 

Teacher. Do all the capitals in a discourse indicate 
the beginning of sentences ? 

Pupil. Of course not; some are the signs of proper 
names. 

Teacher. How can you tell the capitals which mark 
the beginning of sentences from those which indicate 
proper names? 

Pupil. Very easily. The beginning of the first sen- 
tence of a discourse can not be mistaken. And the first 
word of each of the other sentences is known by its 
coming right after a period. 

Teacher. What is the period used for? 

Pupil. The period shows the end of a sentence. 

Teacher. Where must you place the period ? 

Pupil. Exactly on a line with the lower parts of all 
the letters except g, j, y, p 3 q, f, and z, — that is, the line on 
which the written words seem to stand. 

EXERCISE. 

Let the pupil write off the following discourse, dividing it into sentences properly 
indicated. 

well, I have had a party I can hardly believe it I am sure it was 
more than I expected; but my sweet mother proposed it herself she 
thought it proper that I should pay this attention to my friends; 
several of whom had invited me, and that it would please my grand- 
father, who loves the young she said the entertainment must be 
simple, and that the party must break up at nine o'clock of course 
we had an early supper, and our old colored servant was delighted 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 11 

at the thought of serving it around how kind and busy was my dear 
mother to see that the biscuits, cake, and sliced meats should be 
nice and in the best order ! all the scholars of our school were 
invited, and scarcely any failed to come they looked exceedingly 
pretty and neat, dressed in their very best excellent manners, too, 
most of them had at this I was surprised, having seen some behave 
very differently at school it pleased me much that each one, after 
entering the room, went up and bowed or courtesied to my good 
grandfather and he looked beautiful, seated in his arm-chair, with 
his hair, which is not very white for his years, brushed so smooth and 
shining as he took some of them by the hand he said that he liked to 
see young people happy together, and that he did not know why they 
should not like to see him too this brought out a general exclamation 
that they were glad to see him too and then some of them gathered 
around him, while he told them stories of the Revolution and of 
General Washington but they soon got to playing, and engaged in a 
variety of games we played Comparisons and History Characters and 
" What's my thought like?" then we took to telling riddles and 
conundrums I never was very good at guessing riddles, but some of 
the girls were as quick as light so swiftly fled the evening hours that 
we were amazed when the church-clock began to strike nine then all 
took a respectful leave of mother and grandfather, and told me how 
much fun they had had I never felt that I loved my school-mates so 
much before I was so happy that the tears came into my eyes, and 
I had to hurry off to bed to keep the family from seeing me cry 
for joy.* 



LESSON II. 



Teacher. I will tell you how I once helped a little 
girl to make a composition. I wrote out the following 
questions to guide her. 

1. Did you ever have a dog ? 

2. What kind of a dog was he ? 

3. What was his color ? 

4. What was his name ? 

5. Why was he so named ? 

* Altered from Mrs. Sigonrney. ] 



12 FIRST LESSONS IN 

6. Was he playful? 

7. Was he an intelligent dog ? 

8. How did he usually employ himself? 

9. Did he ever go away from home ? 
10. What became of him ? 

I told her that she must write the answers to these 
questions so as to form " continuous discourse," and so 
connect the answers together that no person, on reading 
what she had written, without seeing the questions, would 
suspect that any such help or guide had been given her. 

After a while, she brought me what she had written, 
which contained some mistakes. When I had corrected 
all the errors, the composition read as follows : 

MY DOG. 

I once had a dog. He was a very little dog when I got him, but 
grew as he advanced in age. My brother brought him to me from 
Lexington. He was nearly all black, with a white stripe down his 
nose, and with brown tips to his paws. His name was Kip Yan 
Winkle. He was named after that Rip Yan Winkle who slept 
twenty years. I named him so because he slept so much. He was 
very playful and intelligent, as well as very active. He usually 
passed his time carrying people's shoes away. When you awoke 
in the morning you were sure to miss your shoes, and after a while 
you would find one on the staircase or in some other place in the 
house, and the other in the yard. He frequently went to make visits 
to his neighbors and friends, even after I had forbidden him to do so. 
He was punished for this, because disobedience is always punished. 
One day he started to market without my permission, and stopped 
to see some of his friends. I suppose they enticed him off, for he has 
never been heard of since. 

Now, I want you to take the following questions and 
write out, by their guidance, a composition on your cat, — 
if you have a cat; if not, you may imagine yourself to be 
some other little boy or girl, that has such a pet, and write 
out the composition accordingly. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 13 



MY CAT. 

1. Have you a cat or a kitten ? 

2. "What is its color ? 

3. Have you given it a name ? 

4. Can you give any reason for its being called by that name ? 

5. Is it playful ? How does it show its playfulness ? 

6. Is it intelligent ? How has it ever shown its intelligence ? 

7. Can you tell any of its habits or ways ? 

8. Did you ever see it catch a mouse ? 

9. How was it done ? 

10. What did the cat or kitten do, after it had caught the mouse ? 

11. What else can you tell about your kitten, or cat? 

Note to the Teacher. — After the pupil has written such a composition as he 
is able to produce with the foregoing help, the teacher should go carefully over it with 
him, pointing out every error in it, so that he may correct them all in a second draft. 
Of many of the errors he is yet too immature to know the reason : but whether he does 
or does not, they should all be corrected, and the second draft should be as nearly 
perfect as the pupil can make it, with all the knowledge of the teacher to guide him. 
And if rewriting it once will not secure this, let it be written over and again, until it 
is as presentable as the chirographic skill of the pupil can make it. 



LESSON III. 

THE FULL STOPS. 

Teacher. You have now written several pieces of con- 
tinuous discourse; can you tell how the different sentences 
are distinguished, one from another? 

Pupil. I find that each sentence is distinguished from 
the rest of the discourse, by having a capital letter at the 
beginning, and a full stop at the end of it. 

Teacher. Which are the full stops ? 

Pupil. The period, made thus . 

The interrogation point, " " ? 
The exclamation point, " " ! 

Teacher. Which one of them do you find most fre- 
quently used at the end of sentences ? 



14 FIRST LESSONS IN 

Pupil. I find the period to be used at the end of sen- 
tences far more frequently than the other points. 

Teacher. Have you observed any difference between 
prose and poetry, as to the use of capitals ? 

Pupil. Yes; in poetry every line begins with a cap- 
ital, whether it is the beginning of a sentence or not. 

Teacher. Suppose a sentence ends in the course of a 
line, how is it indicated? 

Pupil. Just as in prose ; the period comes after the 
last word of the sentence, and the next sentence begins 
with a capital, although it comes in the middle of the line. 

Teacher. When is it that the interrogation point comes 
at the end of a sentence ? 

Pupil. When the sentence is a question. 

Teacher. Are you sure that you make the interroga- 
tion point correctly? Do you make it bend first to the 
right and then to the left, or vice-versa % 

Pupil. I make it like the letter s, and place a dot 
under it. 

Teacher. That is not right. Observe carefully the 
form again, and give it the right turn. 

Pupil. I see now. But when is the exclamation point 
to be used ? 

Teacher. When the sentence is an exclamation. 

Pupil. How am I to know when the sentence is an 
exclamation? 

Teacher. When it begins with the word how or what, 
and yet does not seem to inquire for any thing, or expect 
an answer, but only to express surprise or admiration, then 
it is an exclamation, and the exclamation point should 
come after it. Look at these examples. 

How beautiful the snow is ! 

How swiftly that bird flies ! 

What fat cows that farmer has ! 

What generous deeds adorned his life on earth ! 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 15 

When I say — "How swiftly does that bird fly?" — I 
seem to want to know its rate of flying: but when I say- — 
"How swiftly that bird flies!" — I am simply expressing 
my admiration of its swiftness. Do you understand the 
difference? 

Pupil. Yes; but do all exclamations begin with the 
word how or what ? 

Teacher. By no means. Some other expressions that 
would naturally be uttered in a loud and rapid manner 
are exclamations, and should have the corresponding 
mark after it. Thus, after the following sentences the 
exclamation point is due. 

" The house is on fire ! Bring some water ! Quick !" 

"He could scarcely believe his eyes. There they lay — six large 
gold pieces !" 

11 John, would you tell me a lie ? Shame !" 

"And so he has hid my spectacles ! The rogue! But I'll pay 
him for it." 

Now transcribe the following piece, and insert all the 
capitals, periods, interrogation and exclamation points 
required by the foregoing rules. 

EVIL OVERCOME WITH GOOD. 

I once had a neighbor who, though a kind man, came to me one 
day, and said, 

II 'Squire White, I wish you to come, and get your geese away 
from my pigs ' ' 

" why " asked I : "what are my geese doing to your pigs " 

"they pick my pigs' ears," he warmly replied, "when they are 
eating, and drive them away from their food; and I will not per- 
mit it" 

"what can I do" inquired I 

"you must yoke them," replied he 

"well, I have not the time to do that just now," I rejoined: "I 
think they must get along as best they can for a day or two by the 
day after to-morrow I shall be through the press of my business, and 



16 FIRST LESSONS IN 

will then attend to this matter, and see that your pigs are relieved of 
their tormentors " 

"if you do not take care of your geese, I will," said he in anger 

"I can not take care of them now, but I will pay you for all 
damage done by them " 

so off he went, and presently I heard a squalling among the 
geese I soon learned that three of them were missing my children 
afterward found them in the bushes, dead and much mangled 

"now," said I, "keep still, and let me punish him" in a few days 
his pigs broke into my corn I saw them, but let them remain a long 
time at last I drove them out, and picked up the corn which they had 
torn down, and fed them with it in the road by this .time he came in 
great haste after them 

"have you seen any thing of my pigs " asked he 

"yes, sir; you will find them yonder, eating some corn which 
they tore down in my field " 

"in your field" 

"yes, sir," answered I, "pigs love corn, you know; they were 
made to eat" 

"how much mischief have they done" 

"oh, not much," I said 

well, off he went to look ; and he estimated the damage to be equal 
to a bushel and a half of corn 

" oh, no ; it can not be so much " 

"yes," he replied; "and I will pay you every cent of damage" 

"no, you shall pay me nothing; my geese have been a great 
trouble to you" 

at this he blushed and went home 

after some days, I met him on the road, and fell into conversation 
with him, in the most friendly manner but when I started on, he 
seemed loath to move, and I paused for a moment both of us were 
silent at last he said, "I have something weighing on my mind" — 
"well, what is it" — "those geese I killed three of your geese, and 
shall never rest until you know how I feel about it I am sorry" 
and the tears came into his eyes "oh, well," said I, never mind; I 
suppose my geese were very provoking" 

I never took any thing of him for it; but whenever my cattle 
broke into his field after this, he seemed glad, because he could show 
how patient he could be 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 17 

LESSOR IV. 

THE INDICATING OF PROPER NOUNS. 

Teacher. Do you know what kinds of words are to be 
written with the first letter a capital? 

Pupil. Yes ; proper nouns are to be written in that way. 

Teacher. That is true; but can you tell me why a 
capital is used with the word pyramids, in the sentence — 
"We went to Egypt expressly to see the Pyramids." 

Pupil. I can not tell; for here I find the same word 
without a capital: "The top shelf of the pantry was 
crowded with pyramids of loaf-sugar." 

Teacher. The reason is that in the former sentence 
the word is used as the distinguishing name for certain 
objects that are famous enough to be known as "the 
Pyramids." That is, the word is used as a proper noun. 
But in the latter sentence, it is used as a common noun. 
Whenever a common noun is used as a proper noun, it 
should begin with a capital. 

Pupil. Suppose the proper name of an object consists 
of several words, as the Gulf of Mexico, should all the 
words begin with capitals ? 

Teacher. Only the nouns and adjectives which it 
contains. The same rule applies to all titles given to 
persons or books. For instance, 

The Duke of Argyle ; 
The President of the United States ; 
The History of British India; 
Pike's Guide to Young Disciples. 

Pupil. Why is the F a capital in the word French ? 

Teacher. Because that word is derived from a proper 
noun. All adjectives derived from proper nouns, or used 
as proper nouns, are to be begun with capitals. Hence, 

2 



18 FIRST LESSONS IN 

American, Chinese, and Christian are always written with 
capital initials. 

Pupil. What are initials? 

Teacher. The first letter of a word is called the ini- 
tial letter. All the foregoing rules, are rules for capital 
initials. 

Now transcribe the following extract, placing the capi- 
tals and periods where they should occur. 

NOAH WEBSTER. 

noali webster was born in west hartford, Connecticut, October 16th, 
1758 he was prepared by the clergyman of the town, rev. nathan 
perkins, for yale college, which he entered in 1774 on his return from 
college, after his graduation, his father presented him with an eight- 
dollar bill of the continental currency, with about four dollars in 
specie, with the information that he must take care of himself it was 
as much as many a father, in those days of poverty and struggle, could 
do for his son school-keeping was, as usual, the first resource of the 
young a. b. in 1782 we find him teaching a classical school at goshen, in 
orange county, new york here he entered upon the preparation of the 
school-books which have given him an american reputation in the 
following years he published consecutively the first, second, and third 
parts of a grammatical institute of the english language, the whole 
comprising the famous spelling-book, a grammar, and a reader the 
spelling-book, revised at different times by the author, reached during 
his life-time a sale of millions, and by a copy-right income of less 
than one cent per copy, supported him and his family for twenty 
years, while he was engaged in preparing his american dictionary. 

noah webster had tact in discerning the wants of the country in 
his day, and providing for them in this spelling-book he simplified 
knowledge, and made it easy of acquisition, arranging the words in 
ready forms to catch the eye and linger in the memory, while he 
added brief lessons in definitions, and geographical and other terms, 
intermingling those homely and hearty lessons of fables and proverbs 
which found their way to the conscience, perhaps despite of the 
wretched wood-cuts that purported to illustrate them there have 
been few moral lessons productive of the same effect in the country 
as the famous old fable of the boy that stole apples who does not 
recollect how he sits, in the wood-cut, alarmingly exposed, astride 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 19 

of a branch almost naked of foliage, while the farmer in small- 
clothes, one arm akimbo, the other drawn well back, takes aim at 
the " sauce-box" do you not think that many a fellow, as he passed 
through the world, has had his sense of duty strengthened by that 
fable then there is that forlorn country maid and her milk-pail, 
teaching the double lesson of the vanity of human expectations, and 
the folly of unnecessary grief how many a housekeeper has wiped 
her eyes and turned from past disaster to present duty, with the 
words " there's no use grieving over spilled milk" vividly recalled 
to her mind in connection with that rude old picture that story, too, 
of the truant, and the descriptions of a good boy and of a bad boy, 
not forgetting the wonderful table of proverbs, counsels, and max- 
ims, all in words of one syllable, taxing the wisdom of nations, and 
the strong old saxon powers of the english language — what sounder 
lessons, more calculated to make honest, thrifty, energetic men, could 
have been set before the plastic minds of american youth the third 
part of the institutes was made up of lessons in reading and speaking, 
dialogues, and poetr}^ there was the affecting story of la roche, rules 
of behavior from chesterfield and of making money from franklin, 
dialogues from otway and shakespeare, stories from swift's tale of a 
tub, and from american history in abundance, extracts from the 
narratives of greene and ramsey, from the orations of warren and 
hancock, and from the poetry of dwight, freneau, and barlow a later 
edition added franklin's memorable piece called the whistle, Jeffer- 
son's logan, and humphrey's adventures of general putnam these 
were the a household words" in school-houses over hill and valley, 
and in the homes of our forefathers in the youth of the nation 



LESSON V. 

THE INDICATING OF INCORPORATED SENTENCES. 

Pupil. I have learned that the first word of every sep- 
arate and complete sentence should begin with a capital. 
But I find some sentences that are not separate and dis- 
tinct, but involved with other sentences; and I am per- 
plexed with them, not knowing whether to make them 
begin with a capital or not. 



20 FIRST LESSONS IN 

Teacher. It very often occurs that one sentence forms 
a part of another; and there are two ways in which this 
may be done. 

One way is to bring in the whole sentence without 
changing any of its words, introducing it by some words 
that definitely refer to it. For example ; — It was Shake- 
speare that wrote the famous sentence, "Who steals my 
purse, steals trash." In this sentence the words — "who 
steals my purse, steals trash" — form a complete sentence 
of themselves: and they are expressly referred to in the 
preceding words, "the famous sentence." In this way it 
is said to be formally introduced. 

Pupil. Then, here is another example of a sentence 
formally introduced : "Eemember the old maxim, ' Hon- 
esty is the best policy.' " 

Teacher. Yes; and here is another: "And Jesus an- 
swered and said unto them, 'Go and show John these 
things which ye do see and hear.' " For the preceding 
words "said unto "them" constitute a formal introduction 
to what follows. 

Pupil. Now, what is the rule about the use of capitals 
in such places ? 

Teacher. Whenever a complete sentence is thus for- 
mally introduced in another sentence it should begin 
with a capital. If it is not formally introduced, but is 
blended with the sentence that comprehends it by any 
conjunction, then it should not be distinguished by a 
capital. For instance, we do not use a capital at the 
beginning of the sentence, "There is a God," when we 
say, "The Atheists deny that there is a God." 

The sentence "Who cut this tree?" begins with a cap- 
ital. And if we incorporate it thus, "His father exclaimed 
'Who cut this tree?' " — it still begins with a capital. But 
if we say — "I do not know who cut this tree," we do not 
use a capital with the word who. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 21 

Look, now, at the following examples, and tell why, in 
each case, the capital is, or is not, used. 

Physician, heal thyself. 

Ye will surely say unto me this proverb: "Physician, heal 
thyself." 

Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth. In all your sorrows, 
remember that "whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth." 

It was Bryant that wrote the splendid verse beginning with — 
"Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again." 

EXERCISE. 

Let the pupil transcribe this piece, inserting capitals and periods where required. 

it is not good for human nature to have the road of life made too 
easy an eminent judge, when asked what contributed most to success 
at the bar, replied, "some succeed by great talents, some by high 
connections, some by miracle; but the majority, by commencing 
without a shilling" it may, indeed, be questioned whether a heavier 
curse could be put on a man than the complete gratification of all 
his wishes, without effort on his part, leaving nothing for his hopes, 
desires, or struggles a certain marquis asking sir horace vere what 
his brother died of, sir horace replied, " he died, sir, of having nothing 
to do" "ah ! " said the marquis, "that is enough to kill any general 
of us all" 

a french statesman, being asked how he contrived to accomplish 
so much work, and at the same time attend to his social duties, 
replied, "I do it simply by never postponing till to-morrow what 
should be done to-day" it was said of an unsuccessful public man, 
that he used to reverse this process, his maxim being never to transact 
to-day what could be postponed till to-morrow one of the minor uses 
of steady employment is that it keeps one out of mischief an old 
captain, when there was nothing else to do, would issue the order — 
"scour the anchor" an economical use of time is the true mode of 
securing leisure it enables us to get through business, and carry it 
forward, instead of being driven by it nelson once said, "I owe all 
my success in life to having been always a quarter of an hour before 
my time" we naturally come to the conclusion that the person who 
is careless about time, is careless about every thing else when Wash- 
ington's secretary excused himself for the lateness of his attendance 
two days in succession, and laid the blame upon his watch, Washington 



22 FIRST LESSONS IN 

quietly replied, "then you must get another watch ; or I must get 
another secretary" franklin once said to a servant who was always 
late, but always ready with an excuse, "the man that is good at an 
excuse is, I have generally found, good for nothing else" the un- 
punctual man is a general disturber of others' peace and serenity 
he is systematically late; regular only in his irregularity he always 
arrives at his appointment after the hour • gets to the railway station 
after the train has started; and posts his letter after the mail has 
closed such men are generally found to be too late for success, and 
become grumblers and railers against fortune. 



LESSON VI. 

RULES FOR CAPITALS. 

Teacher. Can you now repeat all the rules for the use 
of capitals ? 

Pupil. I have learned that 

1. The first word of every sentence should begin with a capital; 

2. The first word of every line of poetry should begin with a 
capital ; 

3. The first word of every sentence formally introduced in another 
sentence should begin with a capital ; 

4. Every proper noun should begin with a capital ; 

5. The first letter of every word used as a proper noun should be 
a capital; 

6. Every adjective and noun in a title or in a phrase used as a 
proper noun should begin with a capital ; 

7. Every adjective derived from a proper noun should begin 
with a capital. 

Teacher. There are two other rules; you may learn 
them with the others. 

8. The pronoun I and the interjection O are always capitals. 

9. In didactic discourse, whenever the subject under discussion, 
or its leading divisions are mentioned, they should begin with 
capitals. 

Pupil. What is didactic discourse ? 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 23 

Teacher. It is what is said or written for the pur- 
pose of teaching, or to set forth the principles of any 
art or science. You will hardly be required to write 
didactic discourse for some time yet. You may now 
write out a composition with the guidance of the fol- 
lowing questions. 

MICE. 

1. What kind of creatures are mice? 

2. What are they covered with ? 

3. Its color and quality ? 

4. Is there any thing peculiar about their eyes ? 

5. How would you describe their movements ? Do they usually 
walk about as hogs and cows do ? Can you think of a reason for this ? 

6. Where do mice live ? 

7. On what do they live ? 

8. What do they seem to like best ? 

9. What animal seems to be the natural enemy of the mouse ? 

10. How does the cat catch mice ? 

11. Are people fond of having mice about the house ? 

12. What mischief do they do ? 

13. How do people seek to destroy them ? 

14. Describe the different kinds of traps that are set for mice. 

15. Can a mouse hurt you ? 

16. Do they ever bite one who does not touch them? 

17. Is it not very silly to be afraid of a mouse ? 



LESSON VII. 

QUOTATION-MARKING.. 

Pupil, In copying discourse from the book, I find 
marks like commas occurring every now and then, in 
pairs, sometimes upside down, sometimes not; what do 
they mean ? 

Teacher. They are quotation-marks. Do you know 
what it is to quote? 



24 FIRST LESSONS IN 

Pupil. The dictionary says it means "to cite the 
words" of another." But this makes me no wiser, for I do 
not know what to cite is. 

Teacher. Well, to quote is to bring in the words of 
another into a discourse. A quotation is the passage thus 
brought in or repeated. When one person, in his dis- 
course, tells or repeats what another person has said or 
written, he is said to quote from that other person; and 
the quotation is marked with these points that look like 
double commas. But they are not the same as commas; 
can you point out the difference ? 

Pupil. They range along with the upper part of the 
ordinary letters of a line and not with the lower part, as 
the commas do. They generally come in pairs, but not 
always, and some are upside down. Why all these dif- 
ferences ? 

Teacher. A simple quotation is marked by a pair of 
inverted commas at the beginning and a pair of commas 
not inverted at the end. Thus, "to quote is to cite the 
words of another." But when one quotation contains 
another, the contained quotation is marked with single 
commas, instead of double ones. For example : 

Then the minister gravely said, "True, my friend, you 
have many resources of pleasure; 'yet lackest thou one 
thing'; you have not gained the favor of your Maker, 
without which you are never safe from unutterable dis- 
aster and wretchedness." 

Pupil. Are the words of others always to be marked 
with quotation-marks when introduced into the discourse 
of another? 

Teacher. Always, unless they are changed in some 
respect to suit the occasion for which they are quoted. 
If the words are brought in just as they were first uttered 
or written, they are truly quotations, and must always 
be marked accordingly. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 25 



EXERCISE. 

To be transcribed and punctuated. 
It is not safe, my son, to sit on the damp ground, said henry's 
mother to him one pleasant day in June why is it not safe asked 
henry the weather is warm and mild, and the turf makes a soft seat 
persons are liable to take severe colds from lying or sleeping on the 
ground, unless they are used to it ; and you have lived so much within 
doors, all the winter and spring, that you can not safely expose your- 
self to the damp i know boys who think nothing of sitting on the 
ground, said henry you are too anxious, mother and henry ran off to 
play with his hoop he had not played half an hour, when, feeling warm 
and tired, he strolled into the garden he came to a bank where roses 
and lilies were in bloom, and where the grass seemed thick and green 
what a nice place for a nap, thought henry; so he dropped his hoop 
and stick, and neglectful of his mother's caution, lay down at full 
length on the ground, and soon fell asleep when he awoke, his limbs 
felt stiff and chilly the wind, too, had changed from the south to the 
east, and it seemed to produce a peculiar feeling on henry, the very 
opposite of sprightliness and a desire for activity he went home, and 
found the family at tea that night, nenry was taken with a high fever 
his sleep on the grass had given him a severe cold in a few days he 
was so ill that the doctor himself was very much alarmed, and called 
in two other physicians to consult about his case at last, however, the 
disease began to yield to the skill and attention of the doctor, seconded 
and carried into effect by his anxious mother's nursing one day the 
doctor, sitting with him, said : it is always dangerous to lie on the 
grass after being over-heated by bodily exercise in such a state, the 
proper course is not to lie or sit down, but to continue exercising 
gently until the skin gradually becomes as cool as usual neither 
should you, when over-heated, expose the body to the wind or to a 
draught of air in the house, nor take off }^our coat, nor fan yourself 
it is no doubt more agreeable to do so, but it is very dangerous the 
safest plan is to walk gently about until the body is cool but, said 
henry, i have heard the boys who went into the army say that after 
marching for hours in the rain, they would sometimes halt, and lie 
down and sleep in the rain, and after a few hours get up and march 
on again, and never get sick, or even take cold that was because they 
had become used to it, said the doctor if you will live as much out of 
doors as they did, take the weather as it comes, and exercise a great 



26 FIRST LESSONS IN 

deal, you will not be affected by wet clothes or sudden cooling either 
but, still, it would require great caution to pass from the one mode of 
life to the other without getting sick do you not recollect how many 
of the fresh recruits were taken sick about a month or two after they 
went into service, and what a large proportion of them died or 
returned home with their health gone, their constitution perma- 
nently or for a long period impaired those who recovered, gradually 
resumed the rough and exposed life of a soldier some by singular 
prudence at the beginning, or else by a singular train of fortunate 
circumstances, passed from the citizen's life, as it is called, to the 
soldier's life, without being made ill by it any one can do this, if he 
exercise sufficient care it is possible for us to preserve ourselves from 
colds and other diseases, if, from childhood, we keep our skin in a 
healthy condition by frequent bathing and by proper exposure ; and 
if, in all weathers and in every season, we take, with proper precau- 
tion, a plenty of bodily exercise in the open air. 



DERIVATIVE ORTHOGRAPHY. 



LESSON VIII. 

DERIVATION. 

Pupil. What is meant by one word's being derived 
from another? 

Teacher. It means that one word is made out of 
another. 

Pupil. How is that ? 

Teacher. By some change in the spelling of the word, 
or by some addition to it, another word is formed, having 
some connection with the first word in meaning. This 
process is called derivation, and the word that is thus 
formed is called a derivative word. 

Pupil. What is the word called from which the deriv- 
ative is formed ? 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 27 

Teacher. That is called the primitive word. If the 
derivation is made by adding something to the primitive, 
then the primitive is called the radical If what is added 
is placed before the radical, it is called a prefix; if after 
the radical, it is called a suffix. 

Pupil. So then in the word unable, un is the prefix, 
and able is the radical. 

Teacher. Precisely. 

Pupil. And in the word friendly, friend is the radical, 
and ly is the suffix. 

Teacher. Yes. You may now pick out all the deriva- 
tive words to be found on any page of your reading-book, 
and arrange their parts in three columns, one for the 
prefixes, one for the radicals, and one for the suffixes, in 
this form : 

DERIVATIVES. PREFIXES. RADICALS. SUFFIXES. 

Astride a stride 

Outward out ward 

Foreknow fore .... know 

Boundless bound less 

Plastered plaster ed 

Unknown un known 

Unadorned ..... un adorn ed 



LESSON IX. 

THE INFLECTIONAL SUFFIXES. 

Pupil. Is it not by derivation that the past tense of 
regular verbs is formed from the present tense ? 

Teacher. Yes. But this kind of derivation is gener- 
ally called inflection. 

Pupil. Can you tell me definitely what inflection is ? 

Teacher. Inflection is that kind of derivation by 
which one grammatical form is made from another by 



28 FIRST LESSONS IN 

the adding of a suffix, or making some other change in 
the spelling. 

Pupil. But it seems to me there are not many kinds 
of inflection used in English, compared with what are 
used in Latin. 

Teacher. You are right. The English language has 
but a few inflections. Can you not count them up for me? 

Pupil. There is the adding of s, to form the plural ; 
that is one : then there is the adding an apostrophe and s, 
to form the possessive singular; that is two: and the 
adding of ed, to form the past tense and perfect participle 
of regular verbs ; that is three : and — and — I can not think 
of any more. 

Teacher. There are four more : er, est, eth, and ing. 

Pupil. Oh, yes : er to form the comparative, and est 
to form the superlative of short adjectives. But I can not 
think what eth is for. 

Teacher. To make the old or solemn form of the third 
person singular present of verbs. 

Pupil. Oh, yes ! And ing forms the imperfect parti- 
ciple of verbs. That is all. 

Teacher. But you have forgotten that some of these 
have two uses. 

S is added to nouns to form their plural; but it is 
also used to form the third person singular of the present 
tense of verbs. 

The suffix 's has another use besides the marking of 
the possessive singular of nouns. The plural of letters, 
marks, figures, and sometimes of proper names, is made 
by an apostrophe and an s. 

Est is the inflection used to indicate the second person 
singular of verbs. 

Now see if you can write these all out in a list, 
giving with each suffix the use or uses to which it is 
applied. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 29 



LESSON X. 

Teacher. With the following questions as a guide, 
write out a composition on 

SQUIRRELS. 

1. "What kind of animals are squirrels? 

2. What is their color and size ? 

3. What other animal does the squirrel resemble? 

4. What is the most striking point of difference between that 
other animal and the squirrel ? 

5. What do squirrels live on ? 

6. Where do we find them in the early part of spring ? 

7. What kind of food do they seem to prefer ? 

8. What damage do the squirrels do to the farmers ? 

9. How do the farmers try to prevent this damage ? 

10. Is it easy to kill a squirrel with a gun ? Why ? 

11. Are squirrels ever caught and tamed? 

12. What kind of lodging-places are generally provided for pet 
squirrels ? 

13. What is their most common amusement? 

14. Are squirrels fond of being shut up in a cage ? How do they 
show their joy on being let out? 

15. What animals are naturally the enemies of squirrels? 

16. Where do the wild squirrels stay during winter ? 

17. How do they spend the winter? 

18. Did you ever hear of squirrels crossing a river? 

19. How do you suppose they do it ? 



LESSON XI. 

THE INFLECTION S CHANGED TO ES. 

Pupil. Have we not omitted one of the inflectional 
suffixes. I find some words inflected by the suffix es. 

Teacher. Es is only another form of the suffix s. 
There are some words that end with such a sound that 



30 FIRST LESSONS IN 

you can not join s to them without making another 
syllable of it. These words take es instead of s. For 
instance, box: we can not pronounce such a word as 
boxs; we are almost obliged to sound it as boxes, to 
distinguish it from box. So with such words as church, 
wash, mass, etc. 

Pupil. Box ends in x; church in ch; wash in sh; and 
mass in s. I understand, then, the rule to be that the 
suffix s takes the form of es after all words ending in x, 
ch, sh, or s. 

Teacher. Yes ; but you must recollect that ch some- 
times has the sound of k; and when a word ends with 
that sound, it does not take an e before the s. Thus the 
plural of monarch is not monarches, but monarchs. 

But such words as these we have mentioned, whose 
final sound will not join with s, are not the only ones that 
take an e before the suffix s. Most words ending in o re- 
quire the same form of this suffix. 

Pupil. Then the plural of negro is negroes; and of 
potato is potatoes. Are these all ? 

Teacher. No ; there are some words ending in y, and 
some in /, that do not take the simple s where this suffix 
is required. 

Words ending in y, if a consonant comes before the y, 
change the y into i, and then take the suffix es. Thus : 
lady, ladies ; auxiliary, auxiliaries; deny, denies; mortify, 
mortifies. 

Pupil. But suppose a vowel comes before the y. 

Teacher. Then no change is required; the simple 
suffiix s is added, as in the case of any ordinary word. 
Thus : alley, alleys ; key, keys. 

Pupil. Well, how about words in ff I find that leaf 
makes its plural leaves, and self, selves. But belief h&s for 
its plural beliefs, and grief, griefs. 

Teacher. There is no certain rule to govern these 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 31 

words. You must learn what is the usage in the case of 
each word, and conform to it. But always observe this, 
that whenever an / toward the end of a word is changed 
into v before taking the suffix s, there always conies an 
e between the v and the s, and the termination is ves. 

EXERCISE. 

Let the pupil transcribe the following extract, correcting all the errors he finds in it. 

RURAL ENGLAND. 

There we found ourselfs right in the midst of it and such a country 
of all countrys the most beautiful green, glistening, gorgeous we stood 
dumb-stricken by its loveliness, as, from the bleak april and bare 
boughs we had left at home, broke upon us that english may — sunny, 
leafy, blooming may — in an english lane ; with hedges, hawthorn 
hedges, all in blossom; homely old farm-houses, quaint stables, hay- 
stacks, and grassy-banked ditchs there was the old church-spire over 
the distant trees ; the mild sun beaming through the moist air, and 
all so quiet; not the solemn mystery of the american forest that 
hushs all expressions of light-heartedness : but the soothing quietness 
of peace-suggesting sounds ; the hum of bees, the browsing of silky- 
skinned, real, unimported hereford cows, cropping crisp grass in the 
happy fields. As we walked on we were charmed with the hedges 
they were true farm-fencing hedges, not mere rows of hawthorn bushs, 
trim, stiff, amateur-like, but with the verdure broken, tufty, low, and 
natural they were set on ridges of earth thrown out from ditchs beside 
them, which raise and strengthen them as fences these hawthorn 
hedges are now covered in patchs, as if after a slight fall of snow, 
with clusters of white or pink blossoms over its light green leafs here 
and there are holly bushs, with bunchs of scarlet berrys, mingled 
with the hawthorn at length a stone spire catchs our eye we 
approach it, and after one or two turns of the road it is full in view 
there it is the old ivy-covered, brown-stone, village cTrurch, with its 
somber archs, its pensive yew-trees, and its heaped-up, green old 
church-yard we knew it at once we had seen it pictured with num- 
berless variations in hundreds of printed or painted landscapes we 
turn to the right there is the old ale-house, long, low and thatch- 
roofed the open door invites us and we enter benchs of marvelous 
whiteness from repeated washing, are ranged round the room on one 
sits a bluff, hearty old fellow, with a long-stemmed pipe and a foaming 



32 FIRST LESSONS IN 

pewter mug on the table before him at the same moment another 
man rushs in from the rain that just now comes down in dashs he 
pitchs into a seat and raps with his whip a young woman enters, neat 
and trim, with exactly such a white cap, smooth hair, shiny face, 
bright eyes, and red cheeks as we were looking for the last comer calls 
out — muggoyaii, lass — mug of ale — ay, that's it, I say in my heart 
the tear gushs from my eye as I beckon for other mugs also, and give 
out the toast, merrie england forever they soon find out that I am an 
american, and gather around me with questions the old woman in the 
back room overhears it, fixs on her spectacles, and comes in to look 
at us the stout man with the pipe catchs at a pretext to prolong his 
stay, and plies us with questions about rents, tithes, and taxs the 
muggoyaii man wishs he could save enough to take him to such a 
country in response to our questions we get nothing but grumbling ; 
grumbling at parliament, at the ministry, at the free-trade policy, 
and worst of all, at the seasons and so we found in this loveliest of 
all lands, amid the prettiest of all rural scenery, there was this to 
mar it all — the discontented, evil heart of man. 



LESSON XII, 

THE ELISION OF FINAL SILENT E. 

Teacher. How do you spell the word coming ? 

Pupil. C-o-m, com, i-n-g, ing, coming. 

Teacher. How do you spell living ? 

Pupil. L-i-v, liv, i-n-g, ing, living. 

Teacher. From what are coming and living derived ? 

Pupil. They are derived respectively from come and 
live. 

Teacher. What is done with the last letter of these 
two words, when the suffix ing is added ? 

• Pupil. That seems to be dropped. And very prop- 
erly too, for in these two words, come and live, the final e 
is silent. 

Teacher. This, then, is the rule respecting such 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 33 

words, when they take a suffix that begins with a vowel : 
the final e. being silent, is dropped. 

Pupil. The letter c \ then, of such words as cured. 
:. etc.. belongs to the suffix, and not to the 
radical part of the word. 

Teacher. Certainly: and if ever you have to divide 
such a word at the end of a line, be careful to make the 
division at the right place. Thus, com-ing. living, cur-ed, 
fi .--: \ vic-es, etc. 

Pupil. But I do not find the final e dropped in the 
words graceful graceless, whiteness, finely; etc. TThy is 
this? 

Teacher. Because the suffix in each of these words 
does not begin with a vowel. They are ful less, r. 
and ly. Moreover they are not inflectional suffixes. 

Pupil. But why is the e retained in shoeing and hoeing 
and freeing ? 

Teacher. In these cases the e seems to be a part of a 
diphthong, or else is retained to show that the following i 
is not to be joined in a diphthong with the foregoing 
vowel. SJioing. hoing. and freing would look like words 
of one syllable without the e. 

Pupil. And why is the e retained in singeing and 
tinge 

Teacher. To preserve the preceding g soft, and dis- 
tinguish these words from singing and tinging. 

EXERCISE. 
To be transcribed correctly. 

Paul had never risen from his little bed he lay there, listening to 
the noises in the street, quite tranquilly : not earing much how the 
tinie went, but watching: it. and watching every thing about hini with 
observeing eyes when the sunbeams struck into his room through the 
rustleing blinds, and quivered on the opposite wall like golden water, 
he knew that evening was comeing on. and that the sky was red and 

3 



34 FIRST LESSONS IN 

beautiful as the reflection dieecl away, and a gloom went creeping up 
the wall, he watched it deepen, deepen, deepen into night then he 
imagineed how the long streets were dotted with lamps, and how the 
peaceful stars were shineing overhead his fancy had a strange ten- 
dency to wander to the river, which he knew was flowing through the 
great city : and now he thought how black it was, and how deep it 
would look, reflecting the hosts of stars, and more than all, how 
steadily it rolled away to meet the sea as it grew lateer in the night, 
and footsteps in the street became so rare that he could hear them 
comeing, count them as they passed, and lose them in the hollow 
distance, he would lie and watch the many-colored ring about the 
candle, and wait patiently for day his only trouble was the dark and 
rapid river he felt forced sometimes to try to stop it, to stem it 
with his childish hands, or choke its way with sand ; and when he 
saw it comeing on resistless, he cried out ! but a word from florence, 
who was always at his side, restoreed him to himself; and reclineing 
his poor head upon her breast, he told floy of his dream, and smileed 
when day began to dawn again, he watched for the sun; and when 
its cheerful light began to sparkle in the room, he pictureed to him- 
self — pictured ? — he saw — the high church towers riseing up into the 
morning sky, the town reviveing, wakeing, starting into life once more, 
the river, sparkleing now, as it rolled, but rolling fast as ever, and the 
country bright with dew familiar sounds and crys came by degrees 
into the street below; the servants in the house were rouseed and 
busy; faces looked in at the door, and voices asked his attendants 
softly how he was paul always answered for himself, i am better i am 
a great deal better, thank you tell papa so by little and little, he got 
tireed of the bustle of the day, the noise of carriages and carts, and 
people passing and repassing; and would fall asleep, or be troubleed 
with a restless and uneasy sense again — the child could hardly tell 
whether this were in his sleeping or his wakeing moments — of that 
rushing river why will it never stop, floy, he would sometimes ask 
her it is bearing me away, i think thus the flush of the day, in its 
heat and light, would gradually decline^ and again the golden water 
would be danceing on the wall 



ENGLISH PKOSE COMPOSITION. 35 

LESSON XIII. 

THE DOUBLING OF FINAL CONSONANTS. 

Teacher. How do you write the comparative degree 
of the adjective red? 

Pupil. It is -written redder ; but I do not see why, for 
the radical, red. has only one d. 

Teacher. What is the second person singular of the 
present tense of get ? 

Pupil. G-ettest ; and here again the t is doubled. 

Teacher. What is the present or imperfect participle 
of the verb begin ? 

Pupil. Beginning ; and here again the last letter of the 
radical is doubled. What is the rule for this doubling ? 

Teacher. When a radical word, that has its accent on 
the last syllable, and that ends in a single consonant pre- 
ceded by a single vowel, is to be inflected with a suffix 
that begins with a vowel, then the final consonant of the 
radical is to be doubled. 

Pupil. What a difficult rule ! Pray, can you not ex- 
plain it, or make it simpler for me ? 

Teacher. You will observe there are five conditions : 

1. The word must be accented on the last syllable ; 

2. The last letter must be a consonant ; 

3. The letter next to the last must be a vowel ; 

4. The letter third from the end must be a consonant ; 

5. The suffix proposed to be added must begin with a vowel. 

If all these conditions exist, then the last letter is to be 
doubled ; if a single one fails, then the last letter is not to 
be doubled. 

Now can you tell me why the I is not doubled in raveled 
and raveling? 

Pupil. Because the accent does not come on the last 
syllable in the word ravel. It violates the first condition. 



36 FIRST LESSONS IN 

Teacher. Can you tell me why the w is not doubled 
in showing? 

Pupil. Because the radical show does not end in a 
consonant. It violates the second condition. 

Teacher. Can you tell why the m is not doubled in 
charmed ? 

Pupil. Because the letter before the last in the radical 
charm is not a vowel. The third condition is violated. 

Teacher. Can you tell why the I is not doubled in 
toiling f 

Pupil. Because the third letter from the end in the 
word toil is not a consonant. The fourth condition is 
violated. 

Teacher. Now I will give you some examples in 
which all the conditions are followed, and the rule holds 
good. 

Pupil. But first, tell me why you bring in monosyl- 
lables under the rule. Are they accented on the last 
syllable ? 

Teacher. Certainly. They have but one syllable, and 
as every word, at least every inflected word, must have 
an accent, so the accent must fall on the only syllable. 

Here, then, are the examples I promised you, and you 
will observe how they are divided into syllables. 



Beget . . 


. beget-ting ; 


Mad . 


. . mad-der ; 


Compel . 


. compel-led; 


Flat . 


. . flat-test ; 


Expel . . 


. expel-ling ; 


Begin 


. . begin-ning ; 


Forbid . 


. forbid-dest ; 


Occur 


. . occur-ring ; 


Unpin . 


. unpin-ned: 


Prefer 


. . prefer-red. 



Pupil. I think I have seen the word traveled spelt 
with two Z's, and the word worshiper spelt with two jp's, 
although these radicals do not have the accent on the 
last syllable. 

Teacher. Yes, some writers have practiced this irreg- 
ularity ; but the best orthographers are setting their faces 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 37 

against it, and now the practice of the best writers is 
coming back to the rule. Therefore always write such 
words thus: traveling, traveled, traveler, worshiping, wor- 
shiped, worshiper, caviling, leveling, equaled, enveloping, etc. 

EXERCISE. 

Let the pupil transcribe the following piece, correcting all the errors. 

a Chinese manuscript says that the art of roastting was accidentally 
discover red in the following manner the swineherd, ho-ti, haveing 
gone out into the woods one morning, as his manner was, to collect 
mast for his hogs, left his cottage in the care of his elddest son, bo-bo, a 
great lubberly boy, who being fond of playying with fire, as younkers 
of his age commonly are, let some sparks escape into a bundle of straw, 
which kindleing quickly, spread the conflagration over every part of 
their poor mansion, till it was reduceed to ashs together with the cot- 
tage, (a very sorry antediluvian makeshift of a buildding you may 
think it,) what was of much more importance, a fine litter of new- 
farrowwed pigs, no less than nine in number, perishshed china pigs 
have been esteemmed a luxury all over the east, from the remoteest 
periods that we read of bo-bo was in the utmost consternation, as you 
may think, not so much for the tenement, which his father and he 
could easily build up again, as for the loss of the pigs while he was 
thinkking what he should say to his father, and wringging his hands 
over the smokeing remnants of one of those untimely sufferers, an odor 
assailled his nostrils, unlike any scent which he had before experi- 
enceed what could it proceed from — not from the burnt cottage, — he 
had smelt that smell before ; — indeed this was by no means the first 
accident of the kind which had occured through the negligence of 
this unlucky young firebrand much less did it resemble that of any 
known herb, weed, or flower a premonitory moistenriing at the same 
time overflowwed his nether lip he knew not what to think he next 
stoopped down to feel the pig, if there were any signs of life in it he 
burnt his fingers, and to cool them, he applied them in his booby fashion 
to his mouth some of the crums of the scorchched skin had come away 
with his fingers, and for the first time in his life (in the world's, indeed, 
for before him no man had known it) he tasted — crackleing ! again he 
felt and fumbleed at the pig it did not burn him so much now ; still 
he lickked his fingers from a sort of habit the truth at length broke 
into his slow understanding, that it was the pig that smelt so, and the 



38 FIRST LESSONS IN 

pig that tasteed so delicious ; and surrendering himself up to the new- 
born pleasure, he fell to tearring up whole handfuls of the scorched 
skin with the flesh next it, and was craming it down his throat in his 
beastly fashion, when his sire enterred amid the smokeing rafters, 
armmed with retributory cudgel, and fmdding how affairs stood, began 
to rain blows upon the young rogue's shoulders, as thick as hailstones, 
which bo-bo heedded not any more than if they had been flies the 
tickleing pleasure which he experienceed in his lower regions had 
renderred him quite callous to any inconveniences he might feel 
in those remoteer quarters his father might lay on, but he could not 
beat him from his pig, till he had fairly made an end of it, when, 
becomeing a little more sensible of his situation, something like the 
following dialogue occured you graceless whelp, what have you got 
there devourring is it not enough that you have burnned me down 
three houses with your dog's tricks, (and be hangged to you) but you 
must be eatting fire, and I know not what — what have you got there, 
I say — o father, the pig, the pig do come and taste how nice the burnt 
pig eats — the ears of ho-ti tingleed with horror he curseed his son, and 
curseed himself that ever he should beget a son that should eat burnt 
pig bo-bo, whose scent was wonderfully sharpenned since morning, 
soon rakeed out another pig, and fairly rendding it asunder, thrust the 
lesser half by main force into the fists of ho-ti, still shoutting out, eat, 
eat, eat the burnt pig, father ; only taste ; oh, glory — with such like 
barbarous ejaculations, craming all the while as if he would choke 
ho-ti trembleed at every joint while he graspped the abominable thing, 
waverring whether he should not put his son to death for an unnat- 
ural young monster, when, the crackleing scorching his fingers, as it 
had scorched his son's, and applying the same remedy to them, he in 
his turn tasteed some of its flavor, which, make what sour mouths he 
would for a pretense, proved not altogether displeaseing to him in 
conclusion (for the manuscript here is a little tedious) both father and 
son sat down to the mess, and never left off till they had fairly dis- 
patched all that remained of the litter. 



LESSON XIV. 

INFLECTION OF WOKDS ENDING IN Y. 

Pupil. I find some difficulty in properly joining the 
inflectional suffixes to words ending in y. I find the per- 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 39 

feet participle of pity to be pitied, and of play to be played. 
Why is this ? 

Teacher. The difference is made by the letter that 
precedes the final y. If that letter is a consonant, then 
the y is changed into i before any suffix that begins with e. 
But if the letter before y is a vowel, then no change is 
made. Thus : 

"Weary . . . . . . wearieth wearied; 

Signify signifieth signified; 

Copy eopiest copied; 

Busy busier busiest. 

Gay gayer gayest ; 

Pray prayeth prayest ; 

Survey ...... surveyest surveyed; 

Convoy convoyeth convoyed. 

Pupil. But I find that the verb pay does not have 
payed but paid. 

Teacher. Yes, there are four verbs, pay, lay, stay, and 
say, that contract their forms payed, layed, stayed, and 
sayed into paid, laid, staid, and said. 

Pupil. But how about the suffix ing in lying? The 
radical is not spelt with a y, but is lie. 

Teacher. When the suffix ing is to be added to a 
radical ending in ie, this termination ie is first changed 
into y. Thus, die — dying, tie — tying, underlie — underlying. 

EXERCISE. 

Let the pupil transcribe the following extract, correcting all the errors in it. 

haveing finished my purchases in the bazaars, i returnned to the 
hotel ready to set out, and found the dromedarys, camels, and guides, 
and expectted to find the letter for the governor of akaba, which, at 
the suggestion of mr. linant, i had requestted mr. giiddon to prepare 
for me i now learnned, however, from that gentleman, that to avoid 
being delaied, it would be better to go myself, first sendding my' 
caravan outside the gate, and representting to the minister that i was 



40 FIRST LESSONS IN 

actually waitting for the letter, in which case he would probably give 
it to me immediately i accordingly sent paul ahead with orders to halt 
at the tombs of the califs ; and while he was there tarrieing for me, 
i, accompanied by one of the consul's janizarys, rode up to the door 
of the governor's palace there and then it was my lot to see a man 
bastinadoed i had heard much of this punishment, existting, I believe, 
only in the east, but I had never seen it infiictted before, and hope i 
shall never see it again as on a former occasion, i found the little gov- 
ernor standding at one end of a large hall of entrance, munching, and 
trieing causes a crowd was gatherred around, and before him was a 
poor arab, pleadding and beseeching most piteously, while the big 
tears were rolling down his cheeks near him was a man whose reso- 
lute and somewhat angry expression markked him as the accuser, 
seekking vengeance rather than justice suddenly the governor made a 
gentle movement with his hand ; all noise ceased ; all stretched their 
necks and turned their eager eyes toward him ; the accused cut short 
his crieing, and stood with his mouth wide open, and his eyes fixed 
upon the governor the latter spoke a few words in a very low voice, 
to me 'of course unintelligible, and, indeed, scarcely audible ; but they 
seemmed to fall upon the quick ears of the culprit like bolts of thunder ; 
the agony of suspense was over, and without a word he layed himself 
down at the feet of the governor a space was immediately clearred 
around ; a man on each side took him by the hand, and stretching out 
his arms, kneelled upon them to hold them down, while another seatted 
himself across his neck and shoulders thus nailled to the ground the 
poor fellow, knowwing that there was no chance of escape, threw up 
his feet from the knee-joint, so as to present the soles in a horizontal 
position two men came forward with long stout bars of wood, tyed 
together by a cord, between which they placed the feet, drawing them 
together with the cord so as to fix them in their horizontal position, 
and leave the whole flat surface exposed to the full force of the blow 
in the mean time two strong turks were standding ready, one at each 
side, armmed with long whips much resembling our common cowskin, 
only larger, and made of the hide of the hippopotamus while the occu- 
pation of the judge was suspendded by these preparations, the janizary 
had presentted the consul's letter my sensibilitys are not particularly 
acute, but they yieldded in this instance i had watched all the prelim- 
inarys, nerveing myself for what was to come ; but when i heard the 
scourge whizing through the air, and as the first blow fell upon the 
naked feet, saw the convulsive movements of the body, and heard the 
first loud, piercing shriek, i could stand it no longger i broke through 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 41 

the crowd, forgeting the governor and every thing else but the jani- 
zary laing hold of me at that instant, hauled me back to the governor 
in a moment i recollectted that my own safety depended upon my not 
offendding this summary dispenser of justice, and restrainning myself, 
re-entered his presence the shrieks of the unhappy criminal were ring- 
ging through the chamber, but the governor received me with as calm 
a smile as if he had been siting on his own divan, listenning to the 
strains of some pleasant music ; while i stood with my teeth clenched, 
and felt the hot breath of the victim, and heard the whizing of the 
accursed whip, as it fell again and again upon his bleedding feet i 
have heard men cry out in agony when the sea was rageing, and the 
drownning man, riseing for the last time upon the mountain waves, 
turnned his imploreing arms toward us, and with his dieing breath 
called in vain for help ; but i never heard such heart-rendding sounds 
as those from the poor bastinadoed wretch before me i thought the 
governor would never make an end of readding the letter, when the 
scribe handed it to him for his signature, although it containned but 
half a dozen lines ; he fumbled in his pocket for his seal, and diped it 
in the ink ; the impression did not seem to suit him, and he made 
another, and after a delay that seemmed to me eternal, emploied in 
foldding it, handded it to me with a most gracious smile i am sure i 
grined horribly in return, and snatching the letter, just as the last blow 
fell, i hastenned to leave the scene the poor scourged wretch was silent; 
he had found relief in insensibility i cast one look upon the senseless 
body, and saw the feet layed open in gashs, and the blood streamming 
down the legs i had to work my way through the crowd, and before i 
could escape, i saw the poor fellow revive, and after a fruitless attempt 
to rise, crawl upon his hands and knees to the door of the hall there, 
i rejoiced to see that, miserable 7 and degraded as he was, he yet had 
friends whose hearts yearnned toward him ; they took him in their 
arms and carryed him away. 



LESSON XV. 

Let the pupil, with the help of the following questions, write a composition on 
BUTTERFLIES. 

1. Where are butterflies commonly seen? 

2. At what time of the year do they appear ? 

3. Can you describe the form of a butterfly ? 



42 FIRST LESSONS IN 

4. In what respects are their wings unlike those of birds? 

5. What color is most frequent among them ? 

6. What is it that gives the beautiful colors to the butterfly's 
wing? 

7. If you touch the wing with your finger, what takes place ? 

8. How do cruel children sometimes treat butterflies ? 

9. What do they live on ? 

10. How do they eat their food? 

11. What becomes of the butterflies when the autumn comes ? 

12. Do you know what forms the insect passes through before it 
becomes a butterfly? 

13. What else do you know about butterflies ? 



LESSON XVI. 

SYNONYMS. 



Pupil. What is a synonym ? 

Teacher. One word is the synonym of another when 
the two words are so nearly the same in meaning that 
one can be used in place of the other without changing 
the meaning of the sentence. 

Pupil. Will you give me an example ? 

Teacher. The words assembly and congregation are 
synonymous. They both mean a collection of people. 

Pupil. But can we always substitute one of these 
words for the other, without changing the meaning of 
the sentence? 

Teacher. Not in every case. Usage makes some 
difference in the application of the words, even although 
they mean precisely the same. A collection of people in 
a church for purposes of worship is commonly called a 
congregation. But if any one were to call a collection of 
people in a ball-room, about to engage in a dance, a con- 
gregation^ it would provoke a smile. And yet both mean 
precisely the same thing. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 43 

Pupil. Are there many instances of words meaning 
the same thing? 

Teacher. A great many in our language. The greater 
part of our nouns and verbs have synonyms in one or 
other of their meanings. Sometimes as many as a dozen 
words will agree in expressing one and the same meaning. 

Pupil. Does not this make the language difficult to 
learn ? 

Teacher. It may have that effect to some extent, but 
the advantages of it in other respects are very great. 
And it is highly important for young persons to learn the 
different uses of words, and to what extent they may be 
substituted for one another, in order to give freedom and 
copiousness of expression. A most excellent exercise for 
learners is to change the words of a discourse, by substi- 
tuting synonyms for as many as he can. I will give you 
a model of this exercise : 

EXTRACT UNCHANGED. 

You should have no secrets which you are unwilling to disclose 
to your parents. If you have done wrong, you should openly confess 
it, and ask that forgiveness which a parent's heart is so ready to 
bestow. If you wish to undertake any thing, ask their consent. 
Never begin any thing in the hope you can conceal your design. 
If you once strive to impose on your parents, you will be led on, from 
one step to another, to invent falsehoods, to practice artifice, till you 
will become contemptible and hateful. You will soon be detected, 
and then none will trust you. 

THE SAME WITH SYNONYMS SUBSTITUTED. 

You ought to have no secrets which you are unwilling to reveal to 
your parents. If you have acted wrong, you should frankly acknowl- 
edge it, and beg that pardon which a parent's heart is so ready to grant. 
If you desire to undertake any thing, ask their permission. Never 
commence any thing in the hope you can hide your intention. If you 
once endeavor to impose on your parents, you will be drawn on, from 
one step to another, to make up lies, to practice fraud, till you grow to 
he despicable and odious. You will soon be found out, and then none 
will confide in you. 



44 FIRST LESSONS IN 

Now you may select any plain piece in your reading- 
book, and do with it as in the foregoing extract. You 
will find a table or vocabulary of synonyms at the end of 
this book, which you may use to aid you in hunting up 
synonyms; but you must use your own judgment in 
deciding which of all the synonyms given for each word 
is the best suited to the general meaning. 

NOTE TO THE Teacher. — Let this exercise be submitted to the careful revision 
of the teacher, who should correct all errors and uncouthness of expression that the 
pupil may fall into. There is not a more improving exercise than this for young 
persons, to give them command of language, and a knowledge of the exact force of 
words. Let it be continued for some time before any further advance is made in 
this book. 



THE PROPRIETIES OE STYLE. 



LESSON XVII. 

DICTION. 

Pupil. Is there but one right way of saying a thing? 

Teacher. By no means : the most of our thoughts 
may be expressed in more ways than one ; with regard 
to some thoughts, there is a great variety of ways to 
express them. 

Pupil. Do not different persons choose different ways 
to express their thoughts ? 

Teacher. Yes ; each one has his own way of saying 
a thing ; that is, the way in which he would naturally 
and most easily express the thought in his mind. This 
is called his style. 

Pupil. And are all styles equally good ? 

Teacher. By no means. There are certain rules which 
no person can transgress without impropriety. But there 
is a great variety in the ways of expressing a thought, 
without violating any rule. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 45 

Pupil. Are the rules that we are to observe in our 
style, many and difficult to learn ? 

Teacher. They are quite numerous, but they can be 
arranged under a few general heads, and mastered with 
ordinary diligence. 

Pupil. I should like to learn these rules of style so as 
to make no mistakes in what I say or write. 

Teacher. Before learning the specific rules, I want 
you to understand the elements of style to which they 
refer. Look at these different modes of expressing one 
thought, and observe in what respects they differ : 

" Every one must die." 

" All mankind are mortal." 

" Death is the inevitable lot of all." 

u Every man must pay the debt of nature." 

Pupil. They differ very much : they do not use the 
same words, and the words are not put together in the 
same way. 

Teacher. Exactly. Now, these are the two elements 
of style ; the words that are used, and the way the words 
are put together. These two elements are respectively 
called Diction and Structure. 

Pupil. So then, Diction refers to the words that are 
used, and Structure refers to the way the words are put 
together. 

Teacher. You have expressed it pretty well. Now 
some of the rules of style refer to the diction, others to 
the structure. The rules that refer to the diction of style 
may be arranged under five general heads, according as 
they refer — 

1. To the meaning of the words ; 

2. To their currency ; 

3. To their respectability ; 

4. To the quantity of them ; 

5. To the pleasantness of their sound. 



46 FIRST LESSONS IN 

The first of these constitutes what is called the Pro- 
priety of style; the second, its Purity; the third, its 
Chastity; the fourth, its Precision; and the fifth, its 
Euphony. 

Now, can you write this out in the form of a table or 
synopsis ? 



LESSON XVIII. 

PROPRIETY OF DICTION. 

Pupil. The Propriety of Style refers to the meaning 
of the words employed. I do not understand what that 
means : please explain it to me. 

Teacher. A person's style is said to be proper as to its 
diction, when the words that he uses are the right ones 
to express his meaning. 

Pupil. Why should any person ever wish to use the 
wrong word to express what he wants to say ? 

Teacher. I do not suppose any person ever wants to 
use a wrong word ; but it is not every person that knows 
exactly what the meaning of every word is. Young 
persons, or persons not educated, are apt to pick up a 
word that they hear used once or twice, and use it them- 
selves, having only a vague idea of its meaning; and their 
guess may be wrong. Or a person may intend to use a 
certain word, and use some other word that sounds 
somewhat like it, but has quite a different meaning. 
Hence young persons who desire to write with propriety, 
must pay great attention to the meaning of words, and 
see that they use no word but with its proper meaning. 

I will here furnish you with some lists of words that 
are often misused in this country. See if you can recog- 
nize any of them as having been improperly used by 
persons of your acquaintance. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 47 

LIST OF IMPROPRIETIES — No. I. 

1. Allow — for expect, intend, or suppose. " I allow to go this after- 

noon." " I allow the train is gone "by this time." 

2. Ambition — for spirit, resentment, pluck. " His ambition was 

roused, and he was determined to fight." 

3. Call — for recall, repeat, or pronounce. " I can not call his 

name now." 

4. Carry — for take or lead. Carry means properly to bear in the 

hand or arms. 

5. Convenient — for conveniently, near, or at a convenient distance 

from. The opposite of this is sometimes expressed by the 
word ill-convenient. 

6. Creature (pronounced critter) — for horse, steed, nag. 

7. Crowd — for assembly or collection of persons. A collection of 

persons is not called a crowd unless they are within a small 
space; actually crowded. Hence it is improper to say, "There 
was a thin crowd at church to-day." 

8. Dough-face — for mask. u He wore a dough-face made of fine 

wire gauze." 

9. Funeral— for funeral sermon. A funeral is a burial, attended 

by some ceremony, pomp, or form. Hence a funeral can not 
be preached. 

10. Human — for human being. u There was not a human about the 

place." 

11. Plunder or traps — for baggage or luggage. " Bring in your 

plunder out of the rain." 

12. Rock — for stone or pebble. Rock should only be applied to large 

masses, not to pieces, small enough to grasp with the hand. 

Teacher. You will now take these sentences, and 
write a criticism on each, pointing out all the faults that 
occur in it, showing how, in each case, the expression is 
wrong, and what the correct expression is. You will 
find that the sentences contain, not only violations of 
propriety, but also of the rules for capitals, for terminal 
points, and for derivative orthography. 

Pupil. "Will you please criticise and correct one sen- 
tence as a model for me, so that I may have some idea of 
what is required to be done ? 



48 FIRST LESSONS IN 

Teacher. Very cheerfully. I will select the following 
sentence : 

The crowd was disperseed through the surrounding grove, the. 
Preacher took his stand convenient to the most of them, and deliv- 
erred a very strikeing discourse on the text what must I do to be 
saveed. 

This sentence contains nine errors ; three in the use 
of capitals, two in punctuation, two in orthography, and 
two in propriety of diction. 

1. The word the before Preacher, coming, as it does, after a period, 
and at the beginning of a sentence, should begin with a capital. 

2. The word preacher is not a proper noun, nor is it used as a 
proper noun, and should not, therefore, commence with a capital. 

3. The quoted sentence, What must I do to be saved, being a sen- 
tence complete in itself, should begin with a capital. 

4. This quoted sentence is a question, and should have the inter- 
rogation point after it, and — 

5. Being a quotation, should be marked accordingly, — thus; 
"What must I do to be saved?" 

6. The radicals disperse, strike, and save, all end in silent e: 
when, therefore, the suffixes ed and ing are added, the silent final 
e should be dropped. 

7. The radical deliver is not accented on the last syllable, and 
therefore, when the suffix ed is added, the final consonant r should 
not be doubled. 

8. The use of the word crowd is an impropriety in diction : the 
proper word is assembly, or multitude, or congregation. 

9. The word convenient is also improperly used for adjacent. 

SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

My critter has as much sense as a human. 

I can not call who it was that preached the funeral, but it was a 
very pathetic discourse. 

I allow to carry my crop of cotton to Savannah. 

I never saw a dog have so much ambition : he will attack any 
thing, even a lion, if it should dare to enter my front yard. 

I left my plunder on the platform convenient to the cotton-scales; 
but when I came to look for it, it was gone. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 49 

Just as I went out of the house, somebody with a dough-face on 
jumpped at me to scare me. but I pickked up a little rock, and let 
fly at him, and he vanished. I allowed it was one of the same crowd 
that wantted to get me into a difficulty about my politics ; but there 
is not a human on earth that can make me back down or run, by such 
means as that. 



LESSON XIX. 

LIST OF IMPROPRIETIES — No. II. 

1. Applicant — for student; as if apply always had reference to 

menial application. An applicant is one who makes request or 
demand of another for something to be conferred or granted. 

2. Awful, dreadful, or shocking — for very or exceedingly, or 

some other adverb. This is a double error : these words are 
adjectives, and can not qualify other adjectives. It is improper 
to use them in connection with qualities that can not shock 
one, or produce awe or dread, 

3. Bee-gum — for bee-hive. 

4. Better — for more; as, " Better than a week." 

5. Calculate — for design or intend. " I calculate to sow this field 

in wheat next spring." 

6. Circulate — for travel about or around, not strictly in circuit. 

Circulate is not properly applied to the movements of persons. 

7. Demean — for debase. To demean is to behave in any way, prop- 

erly or otherwise. To debase is to degrade, to make mean 
or low. 

8. Difficulted — put to inconvenience ; as if difficult were a verb. 

9. Effort — for essay or work, either literary or oratorical. The 

word effort seems to imply that the work required great labor 
or exertion to produce it. 
10. Emblem — for motto, sentiment, or meaning. This is a misapplica-* 
tion of the term from the sign to the thing signified. When 
a certain sentiment is associated with a certain flower, it is 
the flower that is the emblem of the sentiment, and not the 
sentiment an emblem of the flower. An emblem is always 
a tangible and visible object, standing for some idea, which, 
of course, is not tangible or visible. 
4 



50 FIRST LESSONS IN 

11. Enjoy — for experience, in connection with an object that can not 

give joy. 

12. Fellowship — for affiliate or fraternize with ; as if fellowship 

were a verb. 

13. Fitten (corrupted from fitting)— for fit, the adjective. 

14. Fix — for condition, arrangement, or predicament; as if fix were 

a noun. 

15. Fixins (corrupted from fixings) — for fixtures, appendages, or 

dressing. u Bring a slice of lamb with the fixins." 

SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

I calculate your Brother will get the prize ; he has been such a 
close applicant all the session. 

It was so awful hot in new Orleans during our recent visit there, 
that we could not circulate much through the City. 

If you persist in such conduct, you will demean yourself and your 
family beyond recovery. 

If you do not change your habits and plans, you will get your 
affairs in such a fix that you will be difiiculted to extricate yourself. 

The funeral of Col. Strong was a noble effort of the eloquent 
Preacher, but some condemned it as too laudatory. 

Miss jane, I allow that you are versed in all the language of 
flowers; please tell me the emblem of japonica? 

Mr. Johnson, if you will sell drams, after all that the Church has 
said about it, I, for one, can not fellowship you. 

Place the dish of fixins convenient to the Turkey, so that you can 
help the crowd more expeditiously. 

Your " critter" is dreadful wild. I allow you are much difii- 
culted in managing him. Why don't you carry him to the horse- 
tamer ? 



LESSON XX. 

LIST OF IMPROPRIETIES — No. III. 

1. Have — for must before a passive infinitive. It is not improper 

to say, " I have to finish this work to-night ;" but we can not 
say, " This work has to be finished to-night." 

2. Hate — for dislike. The error consists in using too strong a term. 

We may dislike some things or some persons ; but if we hate, 
it must be persons that we hate. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 51 

3. Heap — for deal or much. " I think a heap of him." 

4. Idle — for indolent or lazy. Idle means not at work ; indolent, 

not disposed to work. Idle is opposed to busy ; indolent to 
industrious. 

5. Incident— for liable. We can say, " The trials incident to 

human life;" but not " The trials to which human life is 
incident." 

6. Inside oe — for within, referring to a certain period of time, or 

amount of space. 

7. The verb Lay, laid, laid— for the verb lie, lay, lain. The first 

expresses action, and is transitive ; the other does not express 
action, and is intransitive. A few examples of the correct 
usage of these verbs will make their distinction plain. 



He laid his burden down. 

He laid himself down to 

sleep. 
He always lays his head 

upon the pillow. 
I have laid my hat on this 

table every day for a year. 
I might have laid the pig 

on his side in the cart. 



There his burden lay for an 

hour. 
While sleeping, he lay as 

still as death. 
He lies with his head upon 

the pillow. 
My hat has lain on this table 

for a whole year. 
But the pig would not have 

lain there a single moment 

after I released him. 



8. Lick — for blow, stroke, or exertion. " He gave the boy a lick 

with the back of his hand." 

9. Like — for disposed to, or as if, or as it were. " I do not feel like 

singing." " I feel like I'm on my journey home." 

10. Loss — for lose. Loss is a noun ; the verb is lose. 

11. Lift — for take tip, in connection with the noun collection. 

12. Lots — for great quantities. Often found in connection with 

cords; for example, "There are lots and cords of chestnuts on 
that tree." 

13. Love — for like. Applying to things a word that can be prop- 

erly applied only to persons. It is improper to say " I love 
oysters." 

14. Mad — for angry, vexed, or provoked. Mad properly means insane. 

It is sometimes figuratively applied to a man in such a tower- 
ing passion as to be, in a maimer, insane. Ordinarily, it is too 
strong a word. 



52 FIRST LESSONS IN 

SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

I laid all night, thinking of the dangers to which my enterprise 
was incident; and in the morning I did not feel like going any 
further in it. 

If your Father persists in that enterprise, he will loss both his 
money and his reputation. 

I make it a point never to strike a child a lick when I am mad : it 
always does more harm than good. 

There is a heap of things that have to be done before I lay down 
to sleep to-night. 

I do not feel like doing the work that another might have done, 
if he had not been so idle, it makes me mad to see people impose 
their burdens on others. 

Our life in this world is always incident to such trials as this. 

I love onions, but I hate the smell of them on one's breath. 

The distance from milan to the Palazzo Simonetti, where the 
wonderful Echo is to be heard, is inside of three miles. 

The horse had too much ambition to let me carry him over such 
a quagmire. 

After we enter red the Ball-room, we saw a heap of dough-faces ; 
indeed almost every body in the crowd wore a dough-face : I was 
afraid I should loss myself amongst them. 

I have seen him mad lots of times, and I do not feel like haveing 
much to do with him. 

He is too idle to strike a lick at any kind of work. ■ 



LESSON XXI. 

With the help of the following questions write a composition on 
BEES. 

1. What other insect does a bee most resemble ? 

2. In what kind of places do bees live ? 

3. Would you call the bee a wild or a domestic animal ? Why ? 

4. Are there different kinds of bees living together in the same 
hive ? ■ 

5. Which is the numerous class of bees in a hive ? 

6. How do the working bees employ themselves during pleasant 
weather ? 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 53 

7. Where do they find the wax of which they build their cells ? 

8. How do they obtain the honey? 

9. Is the sweet substance found in the inside of flowers the same 
as honey in the comb ? 

10. How do the bees make bee-bread ? 

11. What do the bees build the cells for ? 

12. Which one of the bees lays the eggs ? 

13. When an egg is hatched, does there come out a bee fully 
formed ? 

14. Do you know what the worm that is hatched from an insect's 
egg is called ? 

15. What makes the bees divide, and swarm off? 

16. How do the country-people manage to catch a swarm that is 
flying away ? 

17. How do they manage to get out the honey-comb without 
being stung ? 

18. Why is it wrong to take away the honey-comb from a hive 
late in the summer ? 



LESSOR XXII. 

LIST OF IMPROPRIETIES — No. IV. 

1. Middling — for moderately or tolerably. 

2. Mind — for remember. "I don't mind to have seen the word 

before." 

3. Misery — for pain in the body. 

4. Monstrous — for very or enormously. 

5. Mean — for unkind, unjust, oppressive. "They did every thing 

that was mean to Joseph." 

6. Meanness — for base conduct. 

7. Mourner— for penitent; as if we never mourned over any thing 

but our sins. " 

8. Move— for remove. Move is properly transitive, and should be 

followed by. an object, such as residence or abode. Remove is 
the proper word to be used in this sense. 

9. Name — for mention. u I never named the circumstance to any 

one." 
10. Never— for not, applied to a limited time. " I never spoke a 
word the whole evening." 



54 FIRST LESSONS IN 

11. Obliged — for must, applied to logical necessity. "This bill is 

obliged to be correct, because I counted the articles, fixed the 
prices myself, and we have both counted it up twice." 

12. Of for have. This error is almost too flagrant to be put upon 

paper. It arises from a careless way of pronouncing have, 
which some young and ignorant persons take to be of. " He 
would of done it, if I had of let him alone." (Observe the 
double error in this last clause.) 

13. Power— for deal or great quantity. " This field will bring a 

power of corn." 

14. Predicate — for found or base, applied to arguments or propo- 

sitions. 

15. Proud — for glad or gratified. 

16. Punish — for afflict or put in pain. To punish is to put in pain 

in consequence of wrong-doing. But if the idea of penalty is 
not involved in the infliction, it is not punishment. 

17. Powerful or mighty — for very or exceedingly. Adjective for 

adverb, and too strong a word ; often inapplicable. 

SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

I shall be obliged to move to some place more convenient to 
church. 

He looked so awful mad during the whole time of my stay, that I 
never named the matter that chiefly induceed me to call on him. 

We had a monstrous fine meeting ; there were better than forty 
mourners, and some got mighty happy. 

The Preacher seemed to know just what kind of a man I was, and 
told out all my meanness like he had seen it. 

I could of gotten down under the benches, I felt so ashamed. I 
did not feel fitten to sit among humans. 

The Preacher predicated his stronggest arguments on the fact 
that every man feels and knows himself to be accountable for his 
conduct. 

Doctor, this liniment that you gave me, makes the misery worse ; 
I do not see the use of punishing myself in that way ? 

I do n't mind that I ever said that I was proud when you came 
to see me, and still proudder when you went away. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 55 

LESSON XXIII. 

LIST OF IMPROPRIETIES — No. V. 

1. Raise — for rear or bring up, in speaking of children. TVe raise 

corn or hogs ; we rear or bring up children. 

2. Rot— for leak. 

3. Scared — for afraid,. Scared seems to imply something done by 

the terrifying object. 
i. Sexsatiox — for emotion. The former is felt in the body, or is 
caused by something affecting one of the senses ; the latter is 
wholly in the mind, and is caused by some conception or belief. 

5. Shut — for rid. ."I was glad to get shut of him at last." This 

is a corruption of the word shot — discharged. 

6. Sight — for great quantity. 

7. Some or something — for somewhat, used adverbially. "This 

land is something better than mine.'-' 

8. The verb Set, set, set — for the verb sit, sat, sat. Set is often 

transitive, and implies action; sit implies no action and is 
intransitive. The following is proper: "He sits in the chair 
that you have set for him, and where he has often sat before." 

9. Spell — for while or time or turn. "First we plowed a spell; 

then we knocked off, and went a fishing." 

10. Splendid — for very fine, applied without any discrimination. 

"A splendid silk stocking.'' "A splendid teacher." 

11. Stab (pronounced stob) — for stake. "Mark out your line with 

stabs." 

12. Suspicion — for suspect; the noun used as a verb. 

13. Tight — for close at a bargain; — or for tipsy, intoxicated. 

14. Typiey — to represent. A type does represent, it is true; but 

there are things which represent, and yet are not types. A 
type resembles the thing it represents. 

15. Verbiage — for phraseology. In order to have verbiage, a style 

must be word.y. Then the unnecessary amount of words used 
is the verbiage. 
10. Without — for unless. Without is a preposition, unless a con- 
junction. 

17. Healthy — for healthful or wholesome. "I do not think it is 

healthy to eat cake." 

18. Worst — for make worse. "I am afraid I have worsted my case 

a o-ood deal." 



56 FIRST LESSONS IN 

SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

A monstrous polite young man asked me to accept a flower with 
its emblem, but I did not feel like taking it until I knew what the 
flower typifyed. 

The fact is, I was scared of the whole company all the time I was 
in the room; so I thought I would come out for a spell, and try to 
calm myself. 

The verbiage of your letter is very correct : I wish I could raise 
my children to do such nice things. 

Drive a stab wherever you want a post to go ; and I will sit one 
right at the spot. 

I suspicioned that mr. J. was something tight,' yesterday afternoon. 

The sensation of hope is never experienced, without you have some 
good in prospect. 

We have a splendid new cistern, but I suspicion that it must 
run some. 

Do set up straight. I wish I could get shut of such unpleasant 
companions as these that lean on you all the time. 

If you want to raise hearty children, always give them healthy 
food, and never let them set up late at night. 

If my critter gets scared at a bridge, I am dreadful diniculted to 
get him over it. 



LESSON XXIV. 

LIST OF IMPROPRIETIES — No. VI. 

1. Aggravate — for irritate, provoke. 

2. All sorts of- — for excellent, first-rate. 

3. Bad off — for ill. 

4. Bad off for — for in distressing want of. 

5. Being as — for inasmuch as, since. 

6. To be of A mind to — for have a mind to. 

7. Blow — for boast, brag. 

8. Bound — for determined, resolved. 

9. Come of — for outgrow, get over. 

10. Considerable of — for a considerable. 

11. Dirt — for earth, soil, ground. 

12. Does not begin to be — for is not near. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 57 

13. Experience — without an adjective — for religious expe- 



rience. 



14. Experience religion or get religion — for experience 

conversion, become religious. 

15. Have got — for am obliged. 

16. How come — for how so, or how did it happen. 

17. Interfere with — for molest. 

18. Kind o ? , or sort o' — for rather, or somewhat 

19. Let on — for disclose, or intimate. 

20. Like — for as, or as if. 

21. Make out — for succeed. 

22. Make out like — for pretend that. 

23. Mixed up — for promiscuous. 

24. Most — for almost. 

25. IsTo-count — for worthless. Corrupted from the phrase of 

no account, which is proper. 

26. Notions — for small wares, trifles, 

27. Pitch in — for fall to, begin upon. 

28. Posted — for fully informed. 

29. Rich— for entertaining or amusing. 

30. Smart chance — for considerable quantity. 

31. Scare up — for find, hunt up. 

32. Shinplaster — for a fractional or small-change note. 

33. Sure enough — for veritable, genuine. 

34. Spoil out — for rub out. 

35. Stump — for confound, put to a non-plus. 

36. Take on — for make an ado. 

37. Transpire — for happen, take place. 

38. What for — for what kind of, or how good. 

SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

We are mighty had off for corn in our neighhorhood. 

I do not allow this is a sure-enough gold watch, hut heing as it is 
so cheap, I will huy it. 

The whole crowd was invited into the supper-room, where they 
soon pitched into the good things provided. 

I 'm of a great mind to go to the circus this afternoon ; hut I ? m 
sort o' doubtful about its heing respectable. 

He has a bad habit of sitting with his under jaw hanging down ; 
but I hope he will come of it after a while. 



58 FIRST LESSONS IN 

I think he 's considerable of a book-keeper now; but he does not 
begin to be such a scribe as his uncle. 

I 've got to go to school at two o'clock ; but I do n't think the 
teacher will take on much if I am kind o' tardy. 

I did not understand a word that he was saying, but I never let on. 

How did you make out with your speech yesterday. 

Oh, it was a mixed up crowd, and the most of them were no- 
count people, that it is no use talking to. so I didn't care much 
what I said. 

What for an orator is that man. He has a right smart chance of 
wit, and the people take on powerful about him ; but I do not think 
he is a man of strong common sense. 

I am fully posted on all the events that transpired on that evening. 



LESSON XXV. 

IMPROPRIETIES IN THE USE OF PREPOSITIONS. 

Pupil. Why are improprieties so often made in the 
use of prepositions ? 

Teacher. Because prepositions express relations, and 
relations are sometimes difficult to distinguish. 

Pupil. Is there any difference between the relation 
expressed by between, and that expressed by among ? 

Teacher. Yes. Between is used in connection with 
two things only ; among with any number more than 
two. For example, we say — " between two stars" — but 
"among the seven stars." But if the term "the Seven 
Stars" be taken as the proper name of a constellation, 
we might say — "between the Seven Stars and the Worth 
Pole Star :" here the parties are two. 

Pupil. In changing the active to the passive form. I 
found we had to put the agent of the verb in an adjunct 
with the preposition by. Does by always govern the 
agent ? 

Teacher. It generally governs the agent or cause. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 59 

The accompaniment or instrument is put in an adjunct 
with with. As, "The cow was killed by a butcher with a 
knife." Here butcher is the agent, and knife the instru- 
ment. 

Pupil. The word that follows by, then, is not always 
the agent. 

Teacher. Certainly not. Sometimes by governs a 
remote means or accompaniment of the action. For 
example: "I write with a gold pen by candle-light." 
Here pen is the immediate means or instrument, candle- 
light is the remote means or circumstance. 

Pupil. I find some difficulty in the proper discrimina- 
tion of the prepositions to, in, and into. Can you point 
out the exact differences among them ? 

Teacher. Their differences can be best understood by 
considering the relation that they respectively sustain to 
the boundary of the place they refer to. To approaches 
this boundary, but does not pass beyond it. Into crosses 
the line from outside to within. In does not go beyond 
the boundary from inside to outside. For example : I 
meet a person on the road from Nashville to Cave City. 
He tells me he is going to Louisville ; approaching it from 
some point outside, more or less remote. I meet a wag- 
oner on the Bardstown Pike, and he says he is going into 
the city of Louisville ; will cross its boundary from out- 
side to within. He asks me where I live, and I answer, 
"In Louisville." My residence is inside of the boundary, 
and has no connection with what is beyond. 

m 

exercise. 

SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

The sultry day was followed with a heavy storm of rain. 
There is constant hostility between these several tribes. 
After I had journied about six miles, I was passed with a beggar, 
by a bundle in his hand. 

We rode in the market into a wagon drawn with four horses. 



60 



FIRST LESSONS IN 



A man had four sons, and he divided his property between them. 
The diploma was written with an elegant scribe by a steel pen. 
The letter was written by elegance, with gas-light. 
The vessel will sail directly from New Orleans into New York. 
That schooner was built to New York. 

Between all these girls, I find no jealousy, corrodeing their hearts. 
The box was sent back with the next train. 

The vegetables were sold with Peter, and bought by alacrity with 
the housekeepers. 

Send the message by dispatch with telegraph. 

The clouds brightenned in splendor, and then faded into gloom. 

I never hated to see any thing done with a lady so much in my life. 



LIST OF PREPOSITIONS 

AS REQUIRED BY GOOD USAGE AFTER CERTAIN WORDS. 



Abhorrence of — whatever is ab- 
horred. 

Abound in or with — what is 
abundant. 

Abridge of — what is taken away. 

Absent from — a place. 

Accommodate to — what we can 
not help. 

Accommodate with — things de- 
sired. 

Accord with — agree with. 

Accuse of — a crime. 

Acquaint with — objects to be 
known. 

Acquit of — a charge. 

Acquiesce in — a sentiment or pro- 
posal. 

Admonish of — a fault or its con- 
sequences. 

Admission to — a person. 

Admission into — a place. 

Advantage over — a rival or ad- 
versary. 

Advantage of — what benefits us. 

Affinity to or with — any thing. 



Affection for — a person. 
Agree with — a person. 
Agree to — a proposition. 
Agree upon — a settlement or 

course. 
Agreeable to — a person. 
Alter to — some other form. 
Alteration in — the thing changed. 
Amerce in or of — the penalty. 
Analogy to — some other thing. 
Analogy between — two things. 
Antipathy to (rarely against) — 

a thing. 
Approve (with or without of)— 

a thing. 
Array with or in — apparel, etc. 
Ascendant over — a person. 
Ask of — a person. 
Ask for — a thing. 
Ask after — what we seek to 

know. 
Associate with — a person. 
Assure of — a fact. 
Averse to or from — the thing 

disliked. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 



61 



Believe (transitive) — an assertion 
or its author. 

Believe in — a principle or a char- 
acter. 

Believe on — a deliverer. 

Bereave of — what is taken away. 

Bestow on or upon — the bene- 
ficiary. 

Betray to — an adversary or pur- 
suer. 

Betray into — a course not in- 
tended. 

Boast of — what we glory in. 

Blush at — what we are ashamed 
of. 

Border on or upon — what is ad- 
joining. 

Call on — a person. 

Call at — a place. 

Capacity for — what can be done 
or contained. 

Careful of — the object of care. 

Change for — a substitute. 

Change to or into — something 
different. 

Charge on — what is attacked. 

Charge with — a commission. 

Compare with — in order to judge. 

Compare TO — in order to illus- 
trate. 

Composed of — the components. 

Concede to — a person or a request. 

Concur with — a person. 

Concur in — a measure. 

Concur to— an effect. 

Condescend to — a person or thing. 

Confer on or upon — a beneficiary. 

Confer with — a counselor. 

Confide in — a person or principle. 

Conformable TO (seldom with) — 
a pattern or rule. 



Congenial to — a person. 

Congratulate on or upon — good 
experienced. 

Consist of — ingredients. 

Consist in — its equivalent. 

Conversant with — men. 

Conversant in — things. 

Convict of — a crime charged. 

Copy after — a person. 

Copy from — a thing. 

Correspond with — what is con- 
sistent. 

Correspond to — what is suitable 
or analogous. 

Cured of — a disease or fault. 

Defend (others) from. 

Defend (ourselves) against. 

Depend on or upon — a person or 
thing. 

Deprive of — what is taken away. 
— that which 
is lessened in 
some respect. 

Devolve on — a, person. 

Die of — a disease. 

Die by — a means or method. 

Differ with — a person in opinion. 

Differ from — any person or thing 
in some attribute or quality. 

Difficulty of — an action, as one. 

Difficidty in — a course of action. 

Diminution of — the thing less- 
ened. 

Disagree with — a person. 

Disagree to — a proposal. 

Disagreeable to — a person or 
thing. 

Disappointed of — what we fail to 
get. 

Disappointed in — what we have 
gotten. 



Derogate from 
Derogatory to 



62 



FIRST LESSONS IN 



Discourage FROM — any course of 

action. 
Discouragement to — the person 

discouraged. 
Disgusted at or with— a thing. 
Dispose of — a thing. 
Disposed to — a course of action. 
Dispossess of — a thing. 
Disqualify for — an action. 
Divested of — a thing. 
Divide between — two. 
Divide among — more than two. 
Enamored with — a person or 

thing. 
Encroach on or upon — a space. 
Endeavor after — a thing. 
Engage in — a work. 
Engage for — a time. 
Enjoin upon — a person. 
Equal to or with — a person or 

thing. 
Equivalent TO — a thing. 
Espouse to — a person. 
Estimate at — a price. 
Exception from — a number. 
Exception to — a rule or state- 
ment. 
Exception at — what is offensive. 
Exclusive of — what is left out. 
Expert at (before a noun). 
Expert in (before a participle). 
Fall from — an elevation. 
Fall into — a lower place. 
Fall under — disgrace or censure. 
Fall to — what is done eagerly. 
Fall upon — an enemy, etc. 
Familiar — a thing is familiar to 

us. 
Familiar — we are familiar with 

things. 
Fawn on or upon — a person. 



Followed by — the follower. 
Fond of — a person or thing. 
Foreign from or to — a thing or 

person. 
Found on — what lies under the 

foundation. 
Found in — what surrounds the 

foundation. 
Free from — what is absent. 
Fruitful in — what is produced. 
Full of — what fills. 
Glad of — something good for 

ourselves. 
Glad at — the good fortune of 

another. 
Grateful to — a person. 
Grateful for — what is bestowed. 
Hanker after — a thing. 
Hinder from — doing. 
Incorporate substances into a 

whole. 
Incorporate one with another. 
Inculcate on — a person. 
Independent of — a person or 

thing. 
Indulge with — a thing not ha- 
bitual. 
Indulge in — a thing habitual. 
Indulgent to — a person. 
Inform of or about — a subject. 
Initiate into — a place. 
Initiate in — an art. 
Inoculate with — an influence or 

substance. 
Inroad into — a region. 
Inseparable from — a person or 

thing. 
Insinuate INTO — a thing. 
Insist upon — a thing. 
Inspection (superintendence) 

over — a person or thing. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 



63 



Inspection (prying) into — a thing. 
Instruct in — a thing. 
Intent on or upon — a thing. 
Interfere with — a person or 

thing. 
Introduce into — a place. 
Introduce to — a person. 
Intrude into — a place inclosed. 
Intrude upon — a person or place 

not inclosed. 
Inured to — a thing. 
Invested in — apparel. 
Invested with — rights or power. 
Level with — a line or grade. 
Listen to — a person or sound. 
Long for or after — a thing. 
Look on — what is present. 
Look for — what is absent. 
Look after — what is distant. 
Made of — the material. 
Marry to — a person. 
Martyr to or for — a cause. 
Militate against — a thing or 

person. 
Mistrustful of — a person or thing. 
Need of — a thing. 
Obedient to — a person or com- 
mand. 
Object to or against — a person 

or thing. 
Obtrude on or upon — a person 

or thing. 
Occasion of — an event. 
Occasion for — a measure or 

means. 
Offensive TO — a person. 
Operate on or upon — a person 

or thing. 
Opposite to — a thing. 
Participate IN — a thing. 
Partake of — a thing. 



Penetrate into — a place or thing. 

Persevere in — a work. 

Pour in — a substance or quality. 

Prefer ( promote ) aboye — an- 
other. 

Prefer (elect) — one to another. 

Preferable to — another. 

Prefix to — a word. 

Prejudice against — a person or 
thing. 

Preside oyer — an assembly or 
nation. 

Prevent from — doing something. 

Prevail (persuade) with, on, or 
upon — a person. 

Prevail ( overcome ) oyer or 
against — an opponent. 

Prey on or upon — a thing. 

Productive of — the substance pro- 
duced. 

Profit by — a thing. 

Protect. (See Defend.) 

Pronounce against — a person. 

Pronounce on — a thing. 

Provide with — provisions. 

Provide for — an emergency. 

Proud of — a person or thing. 

Quarrel with — a person. 

Reckon on or upon — a favorable 
contingency. 

Reconcile a person to another or 
to a thing. 

Reconcile with — what seems in- 
consistent. 

Reduce (subdue) under — power. 

Reduce to — the ultimate con- 
dition. 

Reflect on or upon — a thing. 

Regard (esteem) for — a person. 

Regard to — the part considered. 

Replete with — what is abundant. 



64 



FIRST LESSONS IN 



Rely upon or on — a person or 
thing. 

Reproach for — a fault. 

Resemblance to — a person or 
thing. 

Resolve on — a course. 

Respect to (sometimes or) — a 
person or thing. 

Restore to — a person or condition. 

Rich in — a substance or quality. 

Rob of — possessions. 

Rule oyer — subjects. 

Satisfied with — what satisfies. 

Share in or of — a thing. 

#ic& of — a disease, or what dis- 
gusts. 

Significant of — the meaning. 

Similar to — something. 

Sink into — what receives. 

Sink beneath — what over- 
whelms. 

Skillful at (before a participle). 

Skillful in (before a noun). 



Strip of— what is taken off or 
away. 

Submit to — a person or thing. 

Swerve from — a course. 

Taste of— what is actually en- 
joyed. 

Taste for — what we can enjoy. 

Tax with — a charge or a burden. 

Tax for — a purpose. 

Thankful for — what has been re- 
ceived. 

Unite (transitive) TO ... f ™ 

Unite (intransitive) with I 

V ; I thing. 

Unison with — a thing. 

Useful for — a purpose. 

Value on or upon — merits. 

Vest in— the possessor. 

Vest with — the thing possessed. 

Wait on or upon — a person or 

event. 

Witness of — a transaction. 

Worthy of — award. 



LESSON XXYI. 

EXERCISE. 
IMPROPRIETIES TO BE CRITICISED. 

The case has no resemblance with the other. 

Congress consists in a Senate and House of Representatives. 

Of what does happiness consist ? 

The government is based in republican principles. 

The Saxons reduced the Britons to their own power. 

Said client believed that said judge is prejudiced to his cause. 

Religion and membership may differ widely from each other. 

The judge is disqualified from deciding in this case. 

He was accused with acting unfairly. 

Colonel Washington was very ill with a fever. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 65 

You may rely in what I say, and confide on his honesty. 
This is a very different dinner to what we had yesterday. 
The bird flew up in the tree. 

What is rny grief in comparison of that which she bears ? 
I find no difficulty of keeping up with my class. 
About two months ago he walked out of a fine morning by a 
bundle in his hand. 

After an interesting conversation for an hour's length, we par- 
ticipated of a light repast. 

She is bereft from all her children. 

I do not concur in my wife with her puritanical notions. 

This remark is founded with truth. 

He was eager of recommending the measure to his fellow-citizens. 

I find great difficulty of writing now. 

Not every change is a change to the better. 

Changed for a worse shape, it can not be. 

It is important, at times of trial, to have a friend to whom you 
can confide. 

You may rely in the truth of what he says. 

Many have profited from good advice who have not been grate- 
ful of it. 

I have no occasion of his services. 

Favors are not always bestowed to the most deserving. 

This article is very different to that. 

Virtue and vice differ widely with each other. 

We rode into a carriage drawn with four horses. 

Such conduct can not be reconciled to your profession. 

Go, and be reconciled with thy brother. 

I am now engaged with that work. 

This measure will be productive in incalculable evils. 

If he will be obedient under his instructions he will not be 
punished. 

I listened at him for more than an hour, but could not under- 
stand him. 

Then the Lawyer spoke up sharply, and said were you a witness 
to this fight, Mr. Caldwell. 

This string is not in unison to that one, nor has its tone any 
resemblance with it. 

I unite to the Preacher in giving thanks for common mercies. 

I have no taste of painted statues ; I think they are dreadful coarse. 



66 FIRST LESSONS IN 



LESSON XXVII. 

With the aid of the following questions write a composition on 

FROGS. 

1. Where do frogs live ? 

2. Are they to be seen or heard in very cold weather ? 

3. Where are they hid in winter ? 

4. What is among the first sounds we hear in the opening spring ? 

5. What is the shape of a frog when first hatched from the egg ? 

6. How do tadpoles manage to move about in the water? 

7. How do tadpoles change into frogs? By first drawing up 
into a stupid state like the caterpillar ? 

8. Do you know how frogs make their singing or croaking noise ? 

9. Is there much difference in the tones of young frogs and old 
ones? 

10. What do frogs live on ? 

11. What animals prey on frogs? 

12. Did you ever hear of frogs being dressed and cooked, and 
eaten by men? 

13. What is the difference between a frog and a toad ? 



LESSON XXVIII. 

CONFOUNDING OF PARONYMS. 

Pupil. In my composition on Progs, speaking of the 
Preneh people eating frogs, I said — "I expect they think 
them very nice eating." You said that the use of the 
word expect in that sentence was an impropriety. Will 
you explain why it is so ? 

Teacher. Willingly. To expect is to look forward to 
something in the future, believing it will soon appear or 
come to pass. To suspect is to imagine as probable that 
something exists which does not appear. We suspect 
what may now exist ; we expect what is to come. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 67 

Pupil. Are not both of these words derived from the 
same root ? 

Teacher. They are. in the Latin. Words that are 
derived from a common root are called paronyms; and 
the kind of error which you committed goes by the name 
of — "the confounding of paronyms." It is a very com- 
mon sort of impropriety. 

I will now furnish you with a list of such words as 
are apt to be improperly used, by being confounded with 
their paronyms. 

LIST OF PAKOSTYMS LIABLE TO BE CONFOUNDED. 

No. I. 
1. Abjure — abjure. 
Abjure — to swear away from: to renounce. 

Adjure — to swear to; to put an oath, to one; to ask him to con- 
firm his word by an oath. 

2. Accident — incident. 
Accident — a chance occurrence; or a property that a person or 
thing may possess, or may not. 

Incident — an occurrence simply, not regarded as a thing of chance. 

3. Affection — affectation. 

Affection — a love or attachment for a person; an unusual con- 
dition of the body or some member of it. 

Affectation — the feigning or assuming of some characteristic trait 
or quality, either of body or mind. 

4. Artist — artisan. 

Artist — one who practices any of the ornamental or fine arts; 
such as painting, sculpture, music, etc. 

Artisan — one who practices any of the useful or necessary arts; 
as carpentry, masonry, working in iron. etc. 

5. Barbarity — barbarism. 

Barbarity-- cruelty; conduct such as could be expected only 
of barbarians. 

Barbarism — An uncivilized state or condition ; an offense against 
purity of style or language. 



gg FIRST LESSONS IN 

6. Beneficent — beneficial. 

A person is beneficent who habitually does good to his fellow- 
beings. 

A measure or transaction is beneficial, if it is productive of good 
to some party or other, or of more good than evil. 
7. Brutal— brutish. 

A person is said to be brutal when he lacks the pity, the mercy, 
or the sympathy of a human being. 

One is said to be brutish who seems to lack the intelligence or 
self-respect of a human being. 

8. Ceremonious — ceremonial. 

A person is ceremonious who is fond of ceremony, and brings it 
in on every occasion. 

A law is called ceremonial when it prescribes certain forms and 
ceremonies. 

9. Colleague — collegian. 

A colleague is one who is united with another in the same office, 
bound by the same duties, etc., but not a partner in trade. 

A collegian is a member of a college, either as a graduate or 
under-graduate. 

10. Consul — counsel. 

A consul is an agent maintained by one nation in the port of 
another nation, to protect its mercantile interests in that port. 

The lawyer or lawyers whose legal advice is asked by a person 
are called his counsel. 

11. Conscience — consciousness. 

Conscience — the mental faculty by which we tell right from 
wrong. 

Consciousness — the knowledge that we have of what we are 
doing, or thinking about. 

12. Corporeal — corporal. 

Corporeal — material; having a substantial body; not spiritual. 
Corporal — belonging to the body. 

13. Credible — credulous. 

A narrative is credible when it may reasonably be believed. 
A person is credulous who is easily influenced by the state- 
ments of others. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 69 

SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

Ever since my uncle came to his death with intemperance, I 
have adjured spirituous liquor. 

Did I tear your umbrella ; I assure you it was quite an incident. 

Her taking on so about the death of the young man was all a 
piece of affection. 

I loss all patience at seeing such barbarism inflicted on a poor 
brute. 

We think the plan you propose is far more beneficent than 
the other. 

Such mistakes as this betray a brutal stupidity in the author 
of them. 

All the ceremonious laws of Moses were abrogated with the 
Christian dispensation. 

I have seen many a colleague that could not construe his own 
diploma. 

The Turkish counsel at Tangiers seemed to have no conscious- 
ness on the subject of exacting fees for his services. 

Corporeal diseases are much less difficult to cure than mental ones. 

The story of a man's appearing in two distant places at the 
same hour of the same day, is not credulous. 

This book-case was made with a sure-enough artist ; I could 
tell that mighty soon, as quick as I sat my eyes upon it. 



LESSOR XXIX. 

LIST OF PARONYMS LIABLE TO BE CONFOUNDED. 

No. II. 

1. Critic — critique. 
A critic is a person who criticises. 

A critique is a piece of composition embodying a critic's views 
of some work. 

2. Deface — Efface. 

These words are distinguished by their objects. The proper 
object of deface is some surface, or some object whose face is 
injured by the act of defacing. The proper object of efface is 
what is written or painted on some surface. 



70 FIRST LESSONS IN 

3. Decline— declension — declination. 
The verb decline is used in four different senses, and the nouns 
corresponding to them are different. 

1. To go into a worse state. 

2. To repeat the several cases of a noun. 

3. To depart from the standard direction. 

4. To refuse to give up; not to accept or comply. 

For the first of these meanings the corresponding noun is decline; 
for the second, declension; for the third, declination; for the fourth, 
declinature. 

4. Durance — duration. 

Durance — imprisonment. Duration — continuance of time. 

5. Emigrant — immigrant. 
Emigrant — one who removes out of the country. 
Immigrant — one who moves into the country. 

6. Eminent — imminent. 

Eminent — conspicuous ; notable. 

Imminent — impending ; threatening every moment to occur. 

7. Equal — equivalent — equable. 

Equal — having the same dimensions. 

Equivalent — amounting to the same thing, or having the same 
value in a certain respect. 

Equable — uniform ; having the same rate ; not unlike at dif- 
ferent times. 

8. Esteem — estimate. 

"We esteem a person when we think highly of him. 

"We estimate when we form a conjecture, or make a calculation 
as to any amount or value. 

9. Example — exemplar. 

An example is any person or thing or incident that illustrates 
a rule or a remark. Sometimes it is used in the sense of 'pattern; 
but just as often in the sense of instance or warning. 

An exemplar is a person held up as a pattern or model to be 
imitated. 

10. Expect — suspect. 

We expect what is yet to come. 

We suspect what lies hidden, or what we may not yet have 
evidence to prove. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 71 

11. Factious — factitious. 
Factious — quarrelsome; apt to break up into parties; prone to 
differ. 

Factitious — artificial; not natural; made up for a purpose. 

12. Falsity— falseness — falsehood. 

Falsity— the want of truth in a proposition, or of soundness in 
an argument. 

Falseness-— may be applied to propositions, but is generally ap- 
plied to character, and personal qualities. 

Falsehood — an untrue assertion. 

13. Fruition — fruitage. 

Fruition — enjoyment, pleasure. 

Fruitage — the total amount of fruit borne by a tree, or the state 
of having fruit. 

14. General — generic. 

General — common ; pertaining to a large number of persons or 
things. 

Generic — pertaining to a class, and coextensive with the class, 
whether large or small. 

SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

Who the author of the piece was, was never named throughout 
the whole critic. 

I hate to receive the declension of such a competent man. 

I found the inscription all defaced from my father's tomb ; but 
I was mighty proud that the fence was still standing. 

This house has stood for a long durance, but it never was 
imminent for its beauty. 

There is a great sight of emigrants coming into this country 
this spring; some persons esteem them at four thousand in all. 

Benjamin Franklin did not say that three removes are equal 
to a fire, but that three removes are as good as a fire. I allow he 
meant as good at causing loss and disaster. 

The motion of col. Jones' buggy is not so equal as the motion 
of yours: it does not begin to be so pleasant to ride in. 

I estimate our old pastor very highly ; he is all sorts of a guide 
to mourners. 

If I catch that rascal, I '11 make an exemplar of him. I expect 
he is an experienced villain. 



72 FIEST LESSONS IN 

The English press is forever trying to get up a factious sen- 
timent against France, by demeaning her great men. 

The falsehood of his arguments was soon made to appear; but 
he never let on that he saw it. 

There is about six weeks from the time of blossoming to the 
time of full fruition. 

Having hands where we have feet, is the general quality that 
distinguishes monkeys from men. 



LESSON XXX. 

LIST OF PARONYMS LIABLE TO BE CONFOUNDED. 

No. III. 

1. Gentility — gentleness. 
Gentility — the quality of being genteel. 
Gentleness — the quality of being gentle. 

2. Graceful — gracious. 
Graceful — having a pleasing shape or motion. 
Gracious — kind, condescending, favorable. 

3. Gradation — graduation. 
Gradation— the act of making into steps or degrees; a scale 
of degrees. 

Graduation^- -the act of taking a degree. 
4. Human — humane. 
Human — belonging to man ; having the properties of man. 
Humane — benevolent, kind, merciful. 

5. Humility — humiliation. 

Humility — the state or quality of being humble — of thinking 
lowly of one's self. 

Humiliation — the act of bringing low ; of reducing from pros- 
perity or honor to a low condition. 

6. Imperial — imperious. 
Imperial — pertaining to an emperor or an empire. 
Imperious — haughty, dictatorial. 

7. Infinite — indefinite. 
Infinite— beyond all bounds. 
Indefinite — not specified, not precisely measured or defined. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 73 

8. Ingenious — ingenuous. 
Ingenious — inventive, fertile in contrivances. 
Ingenuous — candid, open, frank. 

9. Intermittent — remittent. 
A fever is intermittent when one paroxysm passes completely off, 
before another comes on. It is called remittent when a second 
paroxysm comes on before the preceding has gone off. 

10. Judicial — judicious. 

Judicial — pertaining to a judge or a court of law. 
Judicious — with good judgment, prudent. 

11. Juror — jurist. 
Juror — one of the men who compose a jury ) which is a com- 
mittee of men appointed to judge a case. 

Jurist — one who is learned in the law, or occupying an official 
position as judge. 

12. Laborious — elaborate. 
Laborious — prone to labor ; expending labor on some work. 
Elaborate — that on which much labor (literary or artistic) has 
been expended. 

13. Legate — legatee. 
Legate — an ambassador, an agent. 
Legatee — one who receives a legacy. 

14. Literal — literary. 

Literal — not figurative; used in the plain and primary sense 
of the words. 

Literary — pertaining to literature or learning ; given to learned 
pursuits. 

SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

The ingenuous physician invented an instrument to measure 
the difference in temperature between the fever and the chill of a 
remittent fever. 

The judge gave it as his judicious opinion that it was a trespass 
for a man to carry his horse to drink of a spring on another man's 
land ; no matter how ill-convenient his own horse-lot was to a 
watering place. 

By the gentility of the tones of his voice, I knew that he was 
a human man ; so I told him all about the misery in my back. 



74 FIRST LESSONS IN 

She puts up her hair more graciously than any person I know. 
I think she is powerful pretty, but I expect she is a little imperial 
to those about her. 

On the day of his gradation he met with a great humility, from 
the exposure of the fact that his speech was not original. He had 
taken indefinite pains to conceal it, but the truth came out. 

Eleven of the jurists were for giving half the land to each 
legate ; but the remaining one insisted on taking the literary sense 
of the will; and he was so persistent that the jury could not come 
to a verdict. 



LESSON XXXI. 

With the help of the following questions write a composition on 
FLOWERS. 

1. Do flowers grow on herbs or shrubs or trees? 

2. Do they generally grow at the top of the plant, or on the sides ? 

3. At what time of the year are they most numerous ? 

4. Which color is most common in flowers ? 

5. "What are the bright colored leaves of a flower called? 

6. Did you ever see a flower without these pretty colored leaves ? 

7. What parts of the flower are those that give out yellow powder? 

8. Do you know what the yellow powder is called, and what 
is the use of it ? 

9. Why are wild forest-flowers generally more delicate than 
garden flowers? 

10. How do you feel when you see beautiful flowers? 

11. Mention some occasions when it is most appropriate and 
pleasing to adorn with flowers. 

12. How can flowers help to remind us of God? 

13. What other lessons can you draw from flowers? 

Note TO the Teacher.— The teacher may prefer to give his own help to the 
pupils for the writing out of any composition. If so, he can write out a set of 
questions on the blackboard in full view of all the class, and require the class to 
write the composition in his presence, with the help thus afforded. This is some- 
times necessary in order to secure originality. 

Another method is for the teacher to prepare himself, by a little forethought, 
so as to select the best points, and deliver a short lecture to the class on the 
subject assigned. The lecture should not exceed fifteen minutes in length; much 
less than that at first. It should be expressed in the simplest language, and 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION 75 

delivered deliberately and in conversational style. This plan is peculiarly appro- 
priate with such subjects as involve some scientific knowledge to treat them 
understanding^ ; such as Leaves, Seeds, Rain, Snow, Frost, Mosquitoes, Corn, 
Wheat, Cotton, etc. 

Sometimes the teacher may select some single country for the topic, and after 
delivering a short lecture upon it, require the substance of the lecture reproduced 
in the composition. 



LESSOR XXXII. 

LIST OF PARONYMS LIABLE TO BE CONFOUNDED. 

No. IV. 

1. Locality — location. 
Locality — the district in which any object is to be found. 
Location — the act of placing any thing, or of determining its place. 

2. Luxuriant — luxurious. 

Luxuriant — applied to plants, means nourishing, growing in 
abundance. 

Luxurious — applied to persons, means prone to indulge in lux- 
ury; applied to things, means affording enjoyment. 

3. Mechanics — mechanism. 
Mechanics — the science or principles of machinery. 
Mechanism — the plan on which any machine is constructed. 

4. Modify — modulate. 

Modify — to change in some respects ; not confined in its ap- 
plication. 

Modulate — applied only to musical sounds and the human voice : 
to change the key. 

5. Mystical— mysterious. 

Mystical — having a secret meaning; allegorical, emblematical. 
Mysterious — only partly understood ; hard to comprehend. 

6. Nation — nationality. 

Nation — a people of common origin, under one government. 
Nationality — the quality or property of being a nation, or of 
belonging to a particular nation. 

7. Nutriment — nutrition. 
Nutriment — that which nourishes. 
Nutrition — the act of nourishing. 



76 FIRST LESSONS IN 

8. Observance — observation. 
Observance — the act of paying regard to; — applied to laws, 
customs, and ceremonies. 

Observation— the act of noticing any thing ; a remark made on 
any subject, 

9. Penance — penitence. 
Penance — an act imposed on a penitent, to give expression to 
his repentance. 

Penitence — the feeling of one who repents. 

10. Personify — personate. 
Personify — to invest in imagination with the attributes of a 
person. 

Personate — to represent, to act in the character of another. 

11. Physician — physicist. 
Physician — one who practices the art of medicine. 
Physicist — one who investigates the facts and laws of nature. 

12. Pictorial — picturesque. 
Pictorial — having the nature of a picture, or adorned with pic- 
tures. 

Picturesque — what would look well in a picture. 

13. Piety — pietism. 

Piety — reverence and affection for God. 

Pietism — that kind of religion which inclines to excessive cul- 
tivation of piety, at the expense of philanthropy. 

14. Politic — political. 

Politic — prudent ; consulting expediency. 

Political — having reference to affairs of government. 

15. Policy — polity. 

Policy — the course marked out by expediency, or adopted as 
the best. 

Polity — the form of civil government possessed by a country 
or nation. 

16. Population — populace. 

Population is a general term, applied to all the people in a 
country, district, or city. 

Populace is applied only to cities, and signifies the lower classes 
of the inhabitants. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 77 

SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

I never could understand the mechanics of a watch; it is all 
mystical to me. 

Luxurious shrubbery embowers the entire location. 

Can you not modulate your demands on poor major Dottery I 
I think it would be political in you to do so. 

There is more nutrition in an egg than in a turnip ; at least 
for the humane system. 

The whole populace of the valley are very strict in the observa- 
tion of the church festivals. 

I do not think him very learned as a physician, but long 
experience has given him great skill in curing the diseases of 
this location. 

It is much easier to give penitence than to be really sorry for 
having done wrong, so sorry as not to repeat the wrong. 

That old mill peering from between the willows, has a very 
pictorial appearance ; has it not. And what a luxurious elm over- 
shadows it? 

The policy of that nationality was the growth of the experience 
of centuries. Such constitutions are not to be made by congresses 
and committees. 

Thy penitence will do thee no good, unless it costs thee some- 
thing. Let thy patient sufferings water the roots of thy humilia- 
tion. Learn by the absence of luxuriant diet, and even by the 
suspension of all nutriment, to gain the mastery over thy body. 
Give thy time to meditations of pietism. 

Is there no mysterious meaning hidden behind this curious 

monogram ? 

» » ■ 

LESSON XXXIII. 

LIST OF PARONYMS LIABLE TO BE CONFOUNDED. 

No. V. 
1. Principle— principal. 
Principle is always a noun ; it means an elementary or founda- 
tion truth. 

Principal is primarily an adjective, signifying chief, belonging 
to the head, most important, etc. Used as a noun it signifies the 
leading officer, the head man, etc. 



78 FIRST LESSONS IN 

2. Radical — radicle. 

Radical — as an adjective, means belonging to the root, or having 
the nature of a root. As a noun, Radical means either one who 
advocates a thorough reform, or the part of a word to which the 
prefixes and affixes are applied to form a derivative. 

Radicle — means a little root. 

3. Rhyme — rhythm. 

Rhyme — correspondence in sound occurring at the end of two 
or more words or lines of poetry. 

Rhythm — regularity in the recurrence of accent, in continuous 
discourse. 

4. Roman — romish. 

Roman — belonging to the people, city, or ancient empire of Rome. 
Romish — belonging to the church of Rome. 

5. Sanction — sanctify. 
Sanction — to confirm, to ratify, to give force to. 
Sanctify — to make holy, to set apart for holy uses, to consecrate. 

6. Sanguine — sanguinary. 
Sanguine — hopeful, ardent. Sanguinary — bloody. 

7. Scholar — schoolman. 
Scholar — one who attends school ; one who learns ; one who 
is learned. 

Schoolman — one of the philosophic divines of the Middle Ages, 
trained in the schools of Charlemagne. 

8. Scrip — script. 
Scrip — certificate of stock. 
Script — letters formed as in writing. 

9. Sensual — sensuous. 
Sensual — applied to objects, means affording gratification through 
the senses. Applied to persons, it means prone to seek pleasure 
in the senses and appetites. 

Sensuous is applied to objects or ideas that we know through 
the senses, either directly or indirectly. 

10. Social — sociable. 

Sociable is a word of very limited application. It is applied 
only to persons, and means fond of society, affable. 

Social is a word of extensive application, and means pertaining 
to society, having the nature of a society, disposed to society. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 79 

11. Special — specious. 
Special — belonging to one particular thing or kind of things ; 
unlike other things of the same general kind. 
Specious — apparently right or just. 

12. Spiritual — spirituous. 
Spiritual — pertaining to, or having the nature of, an incorporeal, 
intelligent being. 

Spirituous — containing alcohol. 

13. Statue — statute. 
Statue — an image of a human being. 
Statute — a law enacted by the legislature. 

14. Sumptuary — sumptuous. 
Sumptuary — having reference to expense, or style of living. 
Sumptuous — elegant, costly, luxurious. 

15. Temperature — temperament. 
Temperature — the degree of heat in any object. 
Temperament — the natural disposition of any person : the kind 
of constitution he possesses. 

16. Temporal — temporary. 
Temporal — pertaining to time, in contradistinction from eternity. 
Temporary — enduring but a short while. 

17. Theorem — theory. 

Theorems, proposition to be proved ; a rule expressed by for- 
mulas j a pattern used in drawing or painting. 

Theory — a supposition to account for a large class of facts. 

18. Travel — travail. 

Travel — to pass from place to place for business or pleasure. 
Travail — to undergo severe labor. 

SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

He seems to be familiar with the details of the art of surveying, 
but the principals of the science he never studied. 

Do you think there will soon be a radicle reform in the Roman 
church ? 

If you have too many syllables in the line you will break the 
rhyme ? 

Will the ambassador sanctify the agreement made by his sec- 
retary yesterday? 



80 FIRST LESSONS IN 

Your Brother george is so sanguinary! He sees no possibility 
of failure in this plan. 

Your uncle is one of the most learned schoolmen of this country. 
He has made grecian antiquities his specious study, I believe. 

He can transcribe a piece in Eomish letters almost as fast as 
one of us can in scrip. 

The conceptions of the fancy are all sensual, although they are 
unreal. 

Government is the result of the sociable instincts of man ; 
religion, the expression of his spirituous instincts. 

A half a dozen statues have been enacted against this kind 
of fraud, but it still survives. 

The fact is that sumptuous laws are always productive of more 
Evil than Good. 

The temperament of ice-water is too low to be healthy as a 
common drink. 

There are signs that the temporary power of the pope will 
soon come to an end. 

The theorem that sir Isaac Newton invented to account for the 
polarization of light seems very uncouth to our Professor of Physics. 

If we ever get to the point of perfect resignation to the Divine 
will, it must be by the utmost travel of soul. 

"Without I see that his ambition is roused, in which case all 
remonstrance would be thrown away on him, I allow to talk to 
him very plainly. 

The poor girl said she did not feel like singing, as she had 
been sort o' poorly for better than a week. 

I will spoil out all I have written : the verbiage is too low. 



LESSON XXXIY. 

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW. No. I. 

What is discourse? Why is not a conversation classed as con- 
tinuous discourse? 

What is a hyphen? What is the difference between the form 
of a hyphen and the form of a dash? 

What is the difference in form between an interrogation point 
and the letter s? 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 81 

"Which are the full stops ? What is the difference between prose 
and poetry as to the use of capitals ? 

W hat kinds of words (parts of speech) are always written with 
a capital initial? If one sentence forms part of another, what is 
the rule by which you know whether to begin it with a capital 
or not? 

Eepeat all the nine rules for the use of capitals. 

What is didactic discourse? 

What are quotation marks? When are they not double, but 
single at the beginning and end of a quotation? 

What is meant by one word being derived from another? 
What is the distinction between a derivative and a primitive word ? 
What is the radical part of a derivative, and what are the other 
part or parts called? 

What is inflection? Which are the seven inflectional suffixes 
in English? What is the use of each of them? 

When is the suffix s changed into esl What change is made 
when a suffix beginning with a vowel is added to a radical ending 
with silent e? 

What is the rule about the spelling of a radical ending with 
a consonant, when a suffix is added beginning with a vowel ? 

What is the rule about the spelling of a radical ending in y, 
when a suffix is added that begins with a vowel? What change 
takes place when the suffix ing is to be added to a radical ending 
in ie? 

What is meant by th.e style of a person? What are the two 
elements of style ? To what does each refer ? 

Which are the five properties of good diction ? To what does 
propriety of style refer? When is a person's style said to be 
proper ? 

Why are improprieties so often made in the use of prepo- 
sitions ? 

What is the distinction between between and among 1 Between 
by and with? Between to, in, and into? 

What are paronyms? Why are they liable to be used with 
impropriety ? 

6 



82 FIRST LESSONS IN 

LESSON XXXV. 

PURITY OF DICTION — PROVINCIALISMS. 

Pupil. When is the diction of a writer said to be pure ? 

Teacher. When he uses no word that does not belong- 
to our language as it is now used by all reputable writers 
and speakers. 

Pupil. What do you mean by reputable writers and 
speakers ? 

Teacher. Those who have some reputation as such; 
who have been well educated, and are supposed to be free 
from gross faults of style. The stock of words which 
such persons use is the standard of good English. To 
introduce any word into a discourse which does not belong 
to this stock is to commit the fault called Barbarism. 

Pupil. But why should any person want to use a 
word that does not belong to the language? 

Teacher. One cause of its being done is ignorance. 
Unless a person had some general acquaintance with 
our standard literature, he might not know that a par- 
ticular word in common use among the people of his 
section of the country, was used nowhere else, and 
would not be understood by English-speaking people 
in other sections or other countries. Of course such a 
person would be liable to use a word thus limited in 
its circulation. Such a word is called a Provincialism. 

Pupil. In what countries is the English language 
spoken ? 

Teacher. In England, arid with some limited excep- 
tions, through all the British isles, and in all countries 
in other parts of the world settled by the English, or 
subject to their government. Of course it is not the 
vernacular* of those countries where the English are 

* The vernacular language of a people is the language they use in their own 
homes ; their mother tongue. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 



83 



found only in colonies. In each section of these -widely- 
extended regions, some words come into conversational 
use that are never heard in other parts. It is the sec- 
tional or provincial usage that condemns them as bar- 
barisms : they do not belong to the whole language, and 
should not be used in any discourse that is intended to 
be read by the English-speaking public. 

I will now give you a list of such Provincialisms as 
are most likely to be heard and imitated by you. that 
you may avoid them hereafter. 

LIST OF PROVINCIALISMS, 

OR WORDS OF SECTIONAL USAGE. 



Arnbeer — tobacco-spit. 

Anan ? — what ? 

Bender — drunken frolic. 

Bogus — sjnrrious. 

Boss — head-workman, master. 

Bugger (pronounced boog ger) — 
louse, supernatural monster. 

Buncombe — political effect, such 
as demagogues seek. 

Bust — drunken frolic. 

Buster — a huge one. 

Cahoot — coparinersh ip. 

Cantankerous — contentious — iras- 
cible. 

Cavort — prance. 

Chores — little jobs of daily work. 

Chunky — like a chunk — short and 
thickset. 

Contraption — contrivance. 

Darkey — negro. 

Dodger — a cake of boiled, dough. 

Faize — graze, scratch. 

Fice. or rise— a little dog. a whiffet. 

Flit — remove, move away. 

Fornenst — opposite, over against. 

Fouty — contemptible. 



Fuddle — intoxicate. 

Gallivant — gallant (verb). 

Gorni — daub, besmear. 

Hait — a little bit. 

Hippen — diaper. 

Highfalutin — bombastic, grandil- 
oquent, high-flown. 

Hobble — difficulty. 

Hus:2:er-mugger — a person secret- 
ly mean or vicious. 

Hunkers — haunches. 

Infare — bridal reception at the 
bridegroom's home. 

Ker slosh — splash, souse. 

3Iaumuck. or mommuck — man- 
gle. 

Peert (corruption of pert) — quick, 
lively. 

Pesky — trouhlesome, provoking. 

Pickaninny — a negro child. 

Piney-woods — p>ine-wood.s. 

Pone — a loaf. 

Potter — to trifle or delay. 

Primp — make prim, to arrange 
one's person for appearance 
in public. 



84 



FIRST LESSONS IN 



Rambunctious— headlong, rough, 

violent. 
Rile — irritate. 
Rippet — disturbance, disorderly 

noise. 
Ruck — rumple. 
Saddy (pronounced sa-ady) — a 

courtesy. 
Shote — a half-grown pig. 



Shackly or shackling— loose, crazy. 
Skedaddle — retreat in disorder. 
Slewed — much intoxicated. 
Splurge— a dashing appearance. 
Tote — to carry. 
Tali-tan — thank you (a baby 

word). 
Trampoose — saunter, ramble. 
Whopper — a huge one. 



SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

He uses such highfalutin language that a common human like me 
can not understand him. 

Here comes a darkey with his clothes all gormed with gum tur- 
pentine, and two little pickaninnies limping after him: I reckon 
they are from the piney- woods. 

The rude fellow set with his heels against the jamb, and spurting 
ambeer all around him, until there was not a hait of dry, clean floor 
on that side of the room. 

All this talk of going to law about the matter is for buncombe ; 
he does not allow to do any such thing as that. 

These stamps are bogus ; the boss must have known it when he sat 
them aside from the others. 

Every time she looks into a dark room she thinks she sees a bugger 
in it, and skedaddles from the place in great alarm. 

The speaker was as nervous as a little fice, and jabbered and 
cavorted at a dreadful rate ; but it was all for buncombe ; the man 
had no real patriotism or statesmanship. 

Right fornenst me set a buster of a fellow, fishing the dodgers 
out of a pot-pie before him. Every now and then one would slip 
off his fork, and fall kerslosh in the greasy pie, scattering the gravy 
all round. 

Wait until I get through with my chores, and we will go on a 
bender. 

The girls took so long to primp that I got tired, and trampoosed 
to the gin-house, to see the new contraptions there. 

Here my lad ! can you tote this shote into that pen, and be right 
peert about it. That 's a man. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 85 

LESSOR XXXVI. 

THE USE OF FOREIGN EXPRESSIONS. 

Pupil. You have explained how a person may, through 
ignorance, violate purity of style, by introducing a word 
of provincial usage. In what other way can a barbarism 
be perpetrated ? 

Teacher. Have you never heard a person use a French 
word, when he might just as well have expressed himself 
in plain English ? 

Pupil. Yes, often. 

Teacher. Well, that was a violation of purity. His 
diction was not purely English, and he was prompted to 
to use the French expression probably by a little vanity, 
a desire to show off his learning. 

Pupil. Do you think that persons who use a French 
phrase every now and then, are all vain and affected ? 

Teacher. Not in every case. Some French phrases 
express what the English language has no terms to 
express exactly. Of course, in such cases, there is no 
help for it; the French term must be used. But the rule 
is, Never, in English discourse, use a word or phrase from 
any other language, if there is any word or words in English 
that will express the idea as well. 

Pupil. Is French the only language that is liable 
thus to be used to the detriment of the English ? 

Teacher. By no means. Some persons have the habit 
of using Latin and Greek phrases, in the same way. 
Many of the classical phrases, however, that are oftenest 
used in English, are technical terms, and their use could 
not well be avoided. 

With these instructions you must judge for yourself 
in each particular instance, whether the use of a foreign 
expression is justifiable or not. 



86 



FIRST LESSONS IN 



SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED.* 

All the eleves of that ecole have a penchant for the beaux arts. 

The emperor seems to have embonpoint, but I do not like the 
hauteur of his manner. 

The chateau of the senator was soon surrounded by the canaille, 
but he went forth, and spoke to them in a very brusque manner. 

The entire beau monde has been for a week on the qui vive to 
hear the denouement of the matter. 

The young man exhibited quite a jeu d' esprit ; but under the cir- 
cumstances, it was condemned as mal a propos. 

Just as he was about to cut off the tough wing with a coup de maitre 
of his knife, the goose slipped from under his fork out of the plate, 
and landed in the lap of a lady just opposite. "Madam," said he 
with the utmost sang-froid, " I will thank you for that goose." 

Her dress is very outre, and there is always something bizarre 
about her head. Moreover her bijoux are too glaring for ordinary 
occasions. 

There I met my ci-devant Governess, who with a great deal of 
empressement, bade me welcome to the fete champetre. 

Now this bon vivant thought he could spend money ad libitum ; 
but the upshot of his course was Imprisonment for Debt. 

*For the meaning of the foreign words and phrases introduced in these sen- 
tences, see the following: 



FOREIGN WORDS AND PHRASES. . 

Abbreviations.— L. Latin; F. French; S. Spanish; I. Italian. 



Ab initio, L. — From the begin- 
ning. 

Ad captandum, L. — To attract or 
please. 

Ad rem, L. — To the point. 

\ la mode, F. — According to 
the fashion. 

Ad libitum, L. — At pleasure. 

Ad valorem, L. — According to 
the value. 

Agrements, F. — Embellishments, 
charms. 

Alias, L. — Otherwise. 



Alibi, L. — Elsewhere; absent 
from the scene. 

Alma mater, L. — A benign mo- 
ther; one's own college or 
university. 

Anno mundi, L. — In the year of 
the world. 

Anglice, L. — In English. 

A propos, F. — To the purpose, 
suitable. 

Au fait, F.— Skillful, expert. 

Beau monde, F. — The fashionable 
world. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 



87 



Beaux arts, F. — The fine arts. 
Belles lettres, F. — Fine or polite 

literature ; literature intend- 
ed to please. 
Bijou (plu. bijoux), F. — A jewel. 
Billet doux, F. — A love-letter. 
Bizarre, F. — Fantastic. 
Bon jour, F. — Good day. 
Bon mot, F. — A witty remark. 
Bon ton, F. — The height of 

fashion. 
Bon vivant, F. — A good liver, a 

jolly companion. 
Bona fide, L. — In good faith, real, 

true. 
Boudoir, F. — A small room. 
Canaille, F.— Rabble. 
Capias, L. — An order to seize. 
Casus belli, L. — An occasion for 

war. 
Chateau, F. — Castle, country- 
seat. 
Chef d'oeuvre, F. — A masterpiece. 
Ci-devant, F. — Former. 
Cicerone, I. — A guide showing 

works of art. 
Clique, F. — A party. 
Comme il faut, F. — As it ought 

to be. 
Compos mentis, L. — Of sound 

mind. 
Con amore, L. — With love or 

zest. 
Connoisseur, F. — A skillful judge 

of works of art. 
Cortege, F. — An escort. 
Cornucopia, L. — Horn of plenty. 
Coup de grace, F. — The finishing 

blow. 
Coup de main, F. — A taking by 

surprise. 



Coup de maitre, F. — A master- 
stroke. 

Coup d'ceil, F. — A glance of the 
eye ; a hasty view. 

Debris, F. — Broken remnants. 

Denouement, F. — The issue of an 
affair. 

De facto, L. — From the fact. 

Dei gratia, L. — By the grace of 
God. 

De novo, L. — Anew. 

Devoirs, F. — Duties, acts of civil- 
ity. 

Double entendre, F. — Double 
meaning ; indecent allusion. 

Dramatis persons, L. — Persons 
of the drama. 

Eclair cissement, F. — A clearing 
up, or explanation. 

Eclat, F. — Splendor, applause. 

Ecole, F.— School. 

Eleve, F.— Pupil. 

Elite, F. — Choice, select society. 

Embonpoint, F. — Corpulence, 
stoutness. 

Empressement, F. — Zeal, earnest- 
ness. 

Encore, F. — Again ; a word used 
to call for a repetition. 

En masse, F. — In a mass. 

Ennui, F. — Weariness. 

Entree, F. — Entrance. 

Entre nous, F. — Between us ; con- 
fidentially. 

Entrepot, F. — Depot for goods. 

E pluribus unum, L. — One formed 
of many. The motto of the 
United States. 

Ergo, L. — Therefore. 

Esprit de corps, F. — The spirit of 
a body of men. 



FIRST LESSONS IN 



Et csetera, L. — And so forth. 

Exit, L. — Departure. 

Exeunt omnes, L.— All go out. 

Exempli gratia, L. — Eor the sake 
of example. 

Ex cathedra, L. — From the 
chair, authoritatively. 

Ex curia, L. — Out of court. 

Ex officio, L. — By virtue of office. 

Ex parte, L. — On one side; on 
the part of. 

Expose, E. — A laying open; a 
formal statement of reasons, 
facts, etc. 

Ex tempore, L.— Unpremeditated. 

Eac simile, L. — An exact copy. 

Eete champetre, E. — A rural fes- 
tival. 

Eelo de se, L. — Self-murder. 

Eiat, L. — A command. 

Einale, I. — The concluding piece 
in music ; the close. 

Gens d' armes, E. — Armed guards 
of the police. 

Habeas corpus, L. — A writ for 
delivering a person from im- 
prisonment. 

Hauteur, E. — Haughtiness, pride. 

Hie jacet, L. — Here lies. 

Hors de combat, E. — Disabled; 
out of condition to fight. 

Ibidem, L. — In the same place. 

Idem, L. — The same. 

Id est, L. — That is. 

Impromptu, L. — On the spur of 
the moment. 

Imprimis, L. — In the first place. 

Improvisatore, I. — One who com- 
poses and recites impromptu 
poetry. 

In extenso, L. — In full. 



In medias res, L. — Into the midst 
of affairs. 

In perpetuum, L. — Eorever. 

In petto, I. — In reserve or se- 
crecy. 

In propria persona, L.— In per- 
son. 

In statu quo, L. — In its former 
state. 

In toto, L. — Wholly, entirely. 

In transitu, L.— On the passage. 

Incognito, L. — In disguise. 

Instanter, L. — Quickly, earnestly. 

Ipse dixit, L. — He himself has 
has said it ; mere assertion. 

Ipso facto, L. — By the act itself. 

Ipso jure, L. — By the law itself. 

Item, L. — Likewise, also. 

Jeu d' esprit, E. — Play of wit. 

Jet d'eau, E. — Play of water ; an 
ornamental fountain. 

Labor omnia vincit, L. — Labor 
conquers every thing. 

Lapsus linguae, L. — A slip of the 
tongue. 

Laus Deo, L. — Praise to God. 

Lex talionis, L. — The law of re- 
taliation. 

Licet, L. — It is allowed. 

Mademoiselle, P. — A young un- 
married Miss. 

Magna charta, L. — The great 
charter. 

Mai a propos, E. — Out of place, 
inappropriate. 

Messieurs, E. — Gentlemen; sirs. 

Meum et tuum, L. — Mine and 
thine. 

Modus operandi, L. — The mode 
of operation. 

Monsieur, E. — Sir ; Mr. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 



89 



Multum in parvo, L. — Much in a 

little. 
Naivete, F. — Simplicity, ingenu- 
ousness. 
Ne plus ultra, L. — The farthest 

limit or point ; perfection. 
Nolens volens, L. — Willing or 

unwilling. 
Norn de guerre, F. -i an assumed 
JS T om de plume, F. J name. 
Nota bene, L. — Mark well. 
Omnibus, L. — For all. 
On dit, F. — People say. 
Ora pro nobis, L. — Pray for us. 
Outre, F. — Exaggerated. 
Peccavi, L. — I have sinned. 
Penchant, F. — Inclination. 
Pinxit, L. — He or she painted it. 
Plateau, F.— Table-land. 
Porte-monnaie, F. — A flat money 

purse. 
Posse comitatus, L. — The power 

of the county ; an armed body. 
Post meridiem, L. — Afternoon. 
Post mortem, L. — After death. 
Prima facie, L. — From the first 

view; self-evident. 
Pro bono publico, L. — For the 

public good. 
Pro et con., i. e., pro et contra, L. 

For and against. 
Pro tempore, L. — For the time. 
Quantum libet, L. — As much as 

you please. 
Quid pro quo, L. — Something for 

something, tit for tat. 
Qui vive, F.— Alert, wide-awake. 
Quo warranto, L. — By what au- 
thority. 
Kara avis, L. — A rare bird; a 

prodigy. 



Ragout, F. — Stewed meat. 
Reveille, F. — A drum-beat signal 

to arise. 
Sans, F.— Without. 
Sang-froid, F.— Cold-bloodedness, 

want of feeling. 
Sculpsit, L. — He or she en- 
graved it. 
Sic semper tyrannis, L. — So may 

it always be with tyrants. 
Sine die, L. — Without appointing 

a day. 
Sine qua non, L. — Indispensable 

condition. 
Sobriquet, F. — Nickname. 
Soiree, F. — Evening party. 
Sub rosa, L. — Under the rose; 

privately. 
Summum bonum, L. — The chief 

good. 
Tableau, F. — A picture. 
Tapis, F. — A carpet. 
Terra firma, L. — Firm earth. 
Tete-a-tete, F. — Head to head ux 

private conversation. 
Toupet, F. — An artificial lock of 

hair ; a curl. 
Tout ensemble, F. — The whole 

taken together. 
Yade mecum, L. — Go with me; 

a constant companion. 
Yalet de chambre, F.— A footman. 
Verbatim et literatim, L. — Word 

for word and letter for letter. 
Yia, L.— By way of. 
Vice versa, L. — The opposite way. 
Vis-a-vis, F. — Opposite. 
Viva voce, L.— By the living voice. 
Vox populi, vox Dei, L. — The 

voice of the people is the 

voice of God. 



90 FIRST LESSONS IN 

LESSON" XXXVII. 

OBSOLETE WORDS. 

Pupil. You have explained how a writer may violate 
purity by the introduction of words of partial usage, and 
also by the needless use of foreign words : are there any 
other modes of violating purity ? 

Teacher. Yes, there are two ; in a manner the oppo- 
sites of each other. One consists in using obsolete words, 
and the other in trying to bring unnecessary new words 
into use. 

Pupil. What is an obsolete word ? 

Teacher. A word that was formerly in good use as a 
pure English word, but is now no longer used by the best 
writers and speakers. 

Pupil. Do words ever pass out of use ? 

Teacher. Oh, yes. There is a "fashion" in words, as 
in dress and dwellings, etc. Language does not change 
quite so rapidly as the modes of dress and customs of 
society; yet it does undergo change. Some words are 
passing out of use, others are coming into use, all the 
time. Some seem to be laid aside for a while, and then 
are brought back into vogue, just as some styles in dress 
are revived after long disuse. 

Pupil. If a word has passed out of use, why should 
a writer be induced to employ it ? How would he ever 
think of it ? 

Teacher. This is from vanity, again, I presume. Some 
persons have a great fancy for reading old authors. They 
become fond of the old modes of expression; and either 
because they think these better than the modern, or 
because they have a little pride in being able to use 
words that common people can not use, they attempt 
to restore obsolete words. 



ENGLISH PEOSE COMPOSITION. 



91 



Pupil. Well, what if they do ? Is it always wrong 
to use a word that has become obsolete ? How else could 
it happen that some words after being obsolete a while. 
should be restored to common usage ? 

Teacher. If a great man. a popular writer or speaker 
revives an obsolete word in his own discourse, the public 
may accept it. and instead of condemning him. imitate 
him in the use of it. If so. then the word is revived, and 
the great man is praised for adding to the richness of the 
language. But if any person who is not great or popular 
should attempt such a thing, he would be condemned and 
laughed at. So beware how you attempt to go against 
the present fashion in the use of words. 

Pupil. Favor me with a list of the words that are 
obsolete. 

Teacher. To enumerate all the obsolete words of the 
English language would occupy several pages unneces- 
sarily. I will here give you a list of those which you 
may sometimes meet with in modern writings, and 
which, therefore, you miffht chance to use. 



LIST OF OBSOLETE WORDS. 



Agog — eager, excited. 

Beclight — bedecked. 

Bedizen — dec!:, adorn. 

Belike — probably. 

Bewray — betray. 

Companiable — affable, agreeable. 

Digne — worthy. 

Dissimuler — dissembler. 

Eftsoons — soon afterward. 

Eke — also. 

Enow — enough. 

Ens ampl e — exa rnple. 

Erst—; formerly. 

Een or even — eyes. 

Fetise — neat. 



Fro — from. 

Gage (verb) — wager, pledge, 

Greaten — enlarge, grow. 

Heft — Handle or weight. 

Hight — named. 

Holpen — helped. 

Irks — wearies. 

Let — hinder, prevent. 

L e as i n g — deceit, 

Methinks — I think. 

Pathless — nevertheless. 

Pate — head,. 

Quoth — saith or said. 

Se'ennight — lueek. 

Sitk — since. 



92 FIRST LESSONS IN 



Sooth — truth. 
Thereat — at which. 
Thrall— slave or slavery. 
Trow — believe, trust. 
Twain — two. 
Troth — truth, faith. 
Vavasour — landlord. 



Ween — imagine 

Wis — think. 

Wight — person. 

Wit — know. 

Whilom — some time since. 

Ycleped or cleped — called. 

Ye — you (objective). 



Pupil. Why, some of these words are found in the 
Bible! 

Teacher. Yes; the Bible was translated into English 
about three hundred years ago. At that time, many of 
the words that are now obsolete were in good use; and 
of course, the translators did not depart from the pre- 
vailing usage. 

Pupil. But I find some of these obsolete words used 
by people that write poetry in our own time. 

Teacher. The requirements of purity with regard 
to prose diction are not all applicable to poetry. Poets 
are allowed to use any word that ever belonged to the 
language, provided they do not make their verses unin- 
telligible. 

SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

All these digne men are ensamples to us, and nothing should let 
us from following them. 

Anon this holy man wot the leasing of the fiend, and how he 
would have withdrawn him fro well-doing. 

Thou, haughty lord ! thou shalt be bewrayed by thine own thralls. 

Erst we had bread enow; but now, methinks, there's many a 
wight doth go to bed supperless. 

Belike, quoth he, ye wit not my name, and therefore will not 
accost me civilly. 

Ki chard the Third was a deep dissimuler, outwardly companiable 
where he inwardly hated. 

His pate hath not been beholden to a comb for a se'ennight. 

The vavasour is fuddled, I ween, when he goes a gallivanting 
to the tap-room maids. 

In sooth the brightness of her twain eyen hath gleamed in all 
my dreams this night. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 93 

LESSON XXXVIII. 

. UNAUTHORIZED WORDS. 

Pupil. You said in the former lesson that it is a vio- 
lation of purity to try to introduce a new word. How 
else can the fashion change with regard to words ? You 
said that some words are dropping into disuse, and others 
coming into vogue. 

Teacher. I said it is a violation of purity to introduce 
a new word unnecessarily. But if a scientific man has 
discovered a new object, for which the language has no 
name, he may make a name for it. 

Pupil. What do you mean by finding a new object? 

Teacher. Discovering a new kind of thing, of course. 
If the substance or kind of thing has been known to some 
other nation or people, the name that they give to it is 
commonly the one we adopt. By this means a good 
many words have come into our language within the 
present century, and the list is constantly enlarging. 
Some of these words are alpaca, coolie, gunny, gutta- 
percha, jute, meerschaum, sorghum. 

Pupil. But does a person ever find any thing so new 
as not to be known to any body before ? 

Teacher. Yes; chemists from time to time discover 
new elements, or new compounds ; and they are of course 
entitled to give to each a name. Naturalists also discover 
new species of animals or plants ; and though the names 
they give, have at first the form of Latin words, yet if, 
for any cause, any one of these new kinds of animals or 
plants comes to be much talked of, its scientific name 
becomes anglicized. 

Pupil. What do you mean by anglicized? 

Teacher. Made English of: adopted into the English 
language as a common English word. 



94 



FIRST LESSONS IN 



All these that I have mentioned are sources of new 
words. And,/urthermore, if any person, in the interest 
of philosophy or education, wishes to draw a new dis- 
tinction among things that are old, he has the right at 
least to propose a new term for it. 

Making a new word and proposing it for use is called 
coining a word. Only discoverers and original thinkers 
have the right to coin a word. 

Pupil. But when I find a new word used by an author, 
how am I to know whether or not I may use it too ? 

Teacher. The safest rule is to wait and see if repu- 
table writers generally accept and use it. If they do, you 
may follow. If not, you must avoid it. 

Here is a list of words that have been at some time or 
other, used by some writer or writers, but which have 
not been accepted by the literary world in general. 



REJECTED WORDS. 



Acception — -for acceptation, the 
current meaning. 

Acclivious — sloping upward. 

Adorement — adoration. 

Affectuous — pathetic. 

Amiableness — amiability. 

Aspection — aspect. 

Awakenment — awakening. 

Candidness — candor. 

Casuality — casualty. 

Collaud — to unite in praising. 

Conject — to guess. 

Cruciate — to torture. 

Disremember — to forget. 

Dispensate — to grant a dispensa- 
tion. 

Dissimule — to dissemble. 

Effectuate — to accomplish. 

Enthuse — to inspire. 

E ventuate — result. 



Embracement — for embrace. 
Explorate — to explore. 
JFashiondom — the fashionable 

world. 
Einitude — limitation. 
Fleshen— fatten. 
Horally — hourly. 
Hurriment — hurry. 
Inconsumptible — indestructible. 
Inexpected — unexpected. 
Influeneiye — influential. 
Latrociny — robbery. 
No-rate — to publish. 
Orate — to speak, or harangue. 
Particulate — to mention by name. 
Pecunious — pecuniary, or having 

money. 
Philosophism — sophistry. 
Populosity — populousness. 
'Prsivitii&Q— depravity. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 95 



Productivity — productiveness. 
Quarrelous — quarrelsome. 
Quiritation — a crying for help. 
Beviction — resuscitation. 
Risky — hazardous. 
Sedation — a calming. 
Sejoin — disjoin^ separate. 



Squalidness — squalor. 
Unbeknown— unknown. 
Unctuation — anointing. 
Undull — to clarify. 
Unshunnable — unavoidable. 
"Wonderment — astonishment. 
Wrathy — wroth. 



SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

His hurriment only eventuated in his spoiling the work. 

By charring the ends of the timbers, we make them almost 
inconsumptible. 

The crime of latrociny has greatly increased in the island, since 
the war has reduced so many that used to be pecunious to a state 
of squalidness. 

Let us all collaud the president for his embracement of an anti- 
partisan policy, and for his candidness toward office-seekers. 

Gentlemen, this business is too risky; we can not disremember 
what failures have been made by those who have preceded us. 

The pravitude of modern fashiondom is utterly without finitude. 

It cruciates me to walk on ground that is even slightly acclivious. 

His arguments are characterized by philosophism, and his style 
is sophomorical ; how can such a preacher effectuate an awakenment 
among the people. 

The unctuation of the spirit serves to undull the intellectual 
faculties on all questions concerning moral practice or religious 
feeling. 

His aspection showed that he was wrathy. 

All unbeknown to me, he had professed his embracement of the 
Roman faith, and practiced the adorement of the virgin. 

You wouldn't know me, I have fleshened up so much lately. 



LESSON XXXIX. 

ILL-FORMED WORDS. 

Teacher. You have learned that the use of a new 
word which good writers have not yet accepted, is a vio- 
lation of purity; and you have seen that many words 



96 FIRST LESSONS IN 

apparently formed according to rule have been rejected, 
simply because they were not necessary. You must now 
learn something about new words that have been rejected 
because they were not formed aright. 

The science that treats of the formation of words is 
called Philology. I do not propose to give any of the 
rules for forming words, or discuss the meaning and use 
of suffixes and prefixes ; but I will give you a list of such 
words, and explain the reason why each word has been 
rejected from the vocabulary of good English words. 

LIST OF WORDS 

REJECTED BECAUSE ILL-FOEMED. 

1. Come-at-able — The suffix able is never joined to any verb with 

an adverbial appendage to it, such as come-at. . The proper 
word is accessible or attainable. 

2. Go-ahead-itive is liable to similar objection. 

3. Retiracy — The suffix cy is added to verbs ending in ate or 

adjectives ending in ant or ent; it is not proper to add this 
suffix to such a verb as retire, especially when we have the 
noun retirement. 

4. Birth-bom — The suffix dom is generally added to nouns signify- 

ing persons, and never to abstract nouns, such as birth. All 
that birth-dom might mean is conveyed in the words, birth- 
right and inheritance. 

5. Resibenter — The suffix er is placed after verbs to designate the 

agent of the action expressed by the verb. But there is no 
such verb as resident. The verb is reside, and the name for the 
agent is resident. 

6. Annoyful and Dareful — The suffix Jul is placed after adjec- 

tives or nouns to signify abounding in what the adjective or 
noun signifies. It is not properly placed after the verbs annoy 
and dare, since annoying and daring are sufficiently expressive. 

7. Fttneralize and Jeoparbize — The suffix ize is generally placed 

after nouns and adjectives to form verbs whose meaning is to 
make like or convert into that which the noun expresses. Hence 
to funeralize would properly mean to make a funeral of, as if a 
person should convert some ceremony of a different nature into 
a funeral. And jeopardize would mean, not merely to place 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 97 

in danger, but to convert into danger what is not so. But the 
simple word jeopard means to place in danger : hence jeopardize 
is not needed. And funeralize has been coined to mean, very 
objectionably, to preach the funeral sermon of a person. 

8. Gone-ness and Ought-ness— The suffix ness is added to adjec- 

tives to form the corresponding abstract noun. Ought is never 
used as an adjective. The proper word is obligation. Gone is 
sometimes used as an adjective, but then it qualifies the thing 
that did go; as, "The summer is gone." Those who coined 
gone-ness, used it to qualify the thing or place from which 
something else, or all things else had gone. The proper word 
is emptiness, or exhaustion. 

9. Preventative— The suffix ive is added to verbs and other words 

to make adjectives, signifying tending to, or having the power 
to, do what the verb signifies. NTow, the verb is prevent, not 
preventate; and the corresponding adjective (often used as a 
noun) is preventive. 
10. The following fourteen words are all formed as if from Latin 
roots, whereas there are no such words found in the Latin 
language : 

Absquatulate — to remove one's residence. 

Argi^y — to argue. Arguere is a Latin word, but not argufacere. 

Betweenity — indecision, suspense. 

Circumbendibus — circuit or circuitous. m 

Connexity — connectedness. No such word as connexitas. 

Happify — to beautify, to make happy. 

Jollification — noisy festivity. No Latin root to the word jolly. 

Melancholious — melancholy. The word is from the Greek, and 
ous is a Latin suffix. 

Minify — to make less, to diminish. No such Latin word as 
minifacere. 

Needcessity — necessity. 

Plumptitude — plumpness. 

Pocketually— pecuniarily. 

Transmogrify — transform. 

Unconscionable — enormous, unjustifiable. 

Kesurrected — raised, resuscitated. As this word is creeping into 
use among those who are unskilled in etymology, it may be 
well to explain why it is wrong. The error arises from con- 
founding the two verbs rise and raise. The Latin resurgere 
means to rise again, not to raise again. Hence no word formed 

7 



98 FIRST LESSONS IN 

from its supine resurrectum can have a transitive sense. 
Therefore there can be no such passive participle as res- 
urrected. 
11. The four following words contain errors in derivation from the 
Greek, or in applying Greek suffixes to words that have no 
Greek root: 

Judgmatical— -judicious, with judgment. 

Mobocracy — the rule of mobs, anarchy. 

Necrophilism— partiality for negroes. 

Strategetical — strategic; as if the radical were strateges. 

SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

The rev. mr. scott will funeralize the "Wife of mr. strong on this 
day three weeks. 

If the house is come-at-able at all, it is only by a circumbendibus. 

The neighborhood is much less troubled with latrociny since the 
spencers have absquatulated. 

These incessant jollifications among the laboring class jeopardize 
the interests of the whole community. 

Turn the other end of the telescope, and you will find that it 
minifies objects seen through it. 

I dreamed that I was in my resurrected body, and had lost all 
connexity with the present world. I found that I was not so much 
transmogrified as I had expected. 

Such prices as these are unconscionable ; you must suppose that 
pocketually I am infinite, or that I am unable to make a judgmatical 
bargain. 

That circumbendibus movement was strategetical ; but it event- 
uated in no important advantage. 

He was in a state of betweenity, whether to save the city from 
mobocracy by declaring martial law, or to allow the elections to 
proceed, and let negrophilism work its own cure. 

It is very annoyful to have a flower sent to you for the sake of its 
emblem, when you do not know the "language of flowers," as they 
call it. 

A good consciousness and the knowledge that he is loved by all 
who know him, would happify any man. 

He is a middling clever man, but his sons are powerful bad boys. 

I suspicion that the Roman priests have been operating at him; 
he seems shy of all his Protestant collegians in the office. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 99 

LESSON XL. 

THE PROPRIETIES OF LETTER-WRITING. 
THE FORM OP A LETTER. 

Way's Academy, 



Woodburn P. O., Bibb Co., Ga., > 



My dear Charley: Nov - 15th > 187 °- 

I propose to give you, in this form, some plain directions 
as to the manner of arranging the matter of a letter, illustrating my 
directions by the very letter which I write. 

The four parts of a letter are, first, the date; second, the address; 
third, the body of the letter; and fourth, the subscription. I have 
already passed the date and the address, and am now writing the 
body of this letter. As you see above, the date should come at the 
head of the first page of the letter, toward the right-hand side of the 
page. It may occupy one line, or two or three, according to the 
number of words that may be necessary to show where and when the 
letter is written. One thing that you must invariably insert in the 
date of a letter that is sent by mail, is the name of the nearest post- 
office. No matter what fanciful name may be given to the house or 
locality in which the letter is written, the post-office name must not 
be omitted. 

As to the style of the address, that depends upon the relation that 
exists between the correspondents. To a near relative, or a very 
intimate friend, it is allowable to use such a familiar address as I 
have used in this letter. But to others, the address should consist 
of two parts ; first, the name and title of the person, in full ; and 
second, on the next line, the complimentary address, such as Sir, 
Madam, etc. To an utter stranger we would write Sir or Madam; 
to one with whom we have had some previous acquaintance, Dear 
Madam, or My dear Sir. If the letter is addressed to a firm, or any 
collection of persons, the complimentary address should be Gentlemen 
or Ladies. 

Some persons prefer to write the name and title of the party 
addressed at the foot of the letter, toward the left-hand side of the 
page. This is a matter of taste, but it is not proper to insert the 
name and title in both places. 



100 FIRST LESSONS IN 

In writing the body of the letter, be careful to leave a margin of 
about an inch on the left-hand side, and not to write too close to the 
right-hand edge. In commencing a new paragraph, let the first word 
be placed at a distance of two inches from the margin. 

The style of the subscription should correspond with the relation 
between the parties. To a relative, it is always proper to subscribe 
one's self, Your affectionate son, daughter, brother, cousin, etc., as the 
case may be. To a dear friend, one may write, Your sincere friend, 
or Truly yours, etc. To a person whose age or social standing 
demands a more elaborate expression of respect, some such form as 
the following would be in good taste: 

2" have the honor to be 

Your most obedient servant. 

Allow me to subscribe myself 

Your obliged and obt. servant. 

Most respectfully and truly, 

Yours, ^*c. 

With the best wishes for your welfare, 

I am, truly yours, §c. 

Hoping that you will find these directions adequate to all the 
exigencies of your present correspondence, 
I beg to be remembered as 

Your affectionate teacher, 

James Fernley. 
To Master Charles Thornton. 

Note to the Teacher. — Now let the pupil practice the writing of letters, 
addressed to any person whom the teacher may specify. Let him require the pupil 
to narrate in his letter any occurrence that he may recently have witnessed, or to 
relate the events of any specified day, whether it were distinguished by any thing 
unusual or not. Let the letters thus written be carefully revised, and unless the 
errors are few and insignificant, let him be required to make a second and correct 
copy, characterized by sufficient neatness and skill in chirography to be preserved. 



' Let this exercise be repeated from week to week, until neatness, correct- 
ness, and some degree of skill in expression be attained by practice. In this long- 
continued practice, this book will be of but little use except for reference in the 
correctionof errors, or in the search for synonyms to give variety to expression. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 101 

LESSON XLI. 

CHASTITY OF DICTION. 

Teacher. Which are the essential properties of good 
diction ? 

Pupil. Propriety, Purity, Chastity, Precision, and 
Euphony. 

Teacher. Do you know what chastity means ? 

Pupil. Yes; freedom from vulgarity. Is that its 
meaning as applied to style? 

Teacher. Very nearly. In order for the diction of a 
writer to be chaste, he must abstain not only from such 
words as are never heard in decent society, but also 
from those improper expressions which are sometimes 
used among respectable people, to give, as they think, 
liveliness or piquancy to their style. Such expressions 
are called vulgarisms. 

Pupil. So then vulgarism is the violation of chastity 
of diction, just as barbarism is the violation of its purity. 
Will you be so good as to give me an example of vul- 
garism ? 

Teacher. I think Hiss Z was guilty of vulgarism 

the other day, when she remarked of a certain gentle- 
man, that she did not think he was the clean thing ; that 
he made no bones of telling a lie, whenever it would suit 
his purpose. 

Pupil. Why, such expressions are very common in 
conversation ! Are they really vulgar ? I know many 
respectable people who say such things. 

Teacher. You must not confound vulgarism with vul- 
garity. Vulgarism is a transgression of the laws of style; 
vulgarity is the transgression of the rules of decent 
society. There are very many decent and respectable 
people who, from ignorance or carelessness or drollery, 



102 FIRST LESSONS IN 

use expressions that are not, in the true sense of the 
word, chaste expressions, but who would abhor the utter- 
ance of any indecent word. You can not say that they 
are characterized by vulgarity in the least degree; but 
their language is often open to the charge of vulgarism. 

Pupil. But are people always to talk in precise and 
stiff language like a book? 

Teacher. Certainly not. In conversation and in let- 
ters to familiar friends, a much freer style is allowable 
than in books and public addresses. But even in con- 
versation, it should be the aim of every one to avoid all 
undignified and slang expressions. There is a gradation 
in language in this respect, which I might represent thus: 

1. The observance of the strictest chastity; 

2. Indulgence in colloquialisms ; 

3. Indulgence in vulgarism ; 

4. The utterance of indecent words. 

Pupil. Tou have used two words that I do not under- 
stand : colloquialisms and slang. "What do they mean ? 

Teacher. A colloquialism is a free and easy expression, 
perfectly allowable in conversation, but seldom in books, 
in serious correspondence, or in public addresses. 

A slang expression is a vulgarism peculiar to a certain 
trade, or profession, or class of men. It resembles a pro- 
vincialism in the fact that it is not in universal use among 
English-speaking people ; but a provincialism is not nec- 
essarily a vulgar expression. Slang is always vulgar; 
that is, it is always a violation of the rules of the best 
society to use it. 

Pupil. Colloquialisms seem to bear the same relation 
to perfectly chaste language, that a workman's working 
dress does to his Sunday clothes. 

Teacher. That is a very happy illustration. Let me 
now give you a list of prevailing vulgarisms, that you may 
learn to avoid them in your conversation and letters. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 



103 



LIST OF VULGARISMS 
(generally o 

According to Gunter— - accu- 
rately done. 

According to Hoyle— according 
to acknowledged authority. 

Acknowledge the corn — ac- 
knowledge defeat. 

All to pieces — utterly. 

Any how you can fix it — pos- 
itively, in any event. 

Back down — recant, retract. 

Back out — decline, revoke. 

The beat of — any thing supe- 
rior to. 

Bark up the wrong tree — act 
under a mistake. 

Blow out at — abuse, scold. 

Blufe off — deter. 

Brick — rake, dissolute fellow. 

Brick in the hat — drunk. 

Brass i impudence, 

Cheek / self-confidence. 

Bred in the bone — natural, in- 
herited. 

To do up brown — to do to per- 
fection. 

Bully — Fine, capital, good. 

Come it over — deceive, cheat, 
swindle. 

Cave— give up. 

Chawed — mortified. 

Choke off — make desist. 

Not a circumstance to — not to 
be compared to. 

The clean thing — genuine, 
pure, upright. 

Get one's dander up — roused. 

Deadhead — non-paying, priv- 
ileged. 



AND SLANG PHRASES. 

BJECTIONABLE.) 

To be death on — to be master 
of, or to be destructive of, or 
opposed to. 

To go one's death for or on— 
to sustain or uphold at all 
hazards. 

Driving at — engaged in, pro- 
posing to do. 

In for it— committed to it. 

Fire away — begin. 

Fixed fact — well established 
fact. 

Fingers itching — eager. 

Fast — reckless. 

Fork over — deliver, hand over, 
pay. 

Dog cheap — unusually cheap. 

Cracked up — boasted, reputed. 

Face the music — meet the ques- 
tion, or the responsibility. 

Dry up — hush. 

GO THE WHOLE HOG gO through 

with, accomplish thoroughly. 

Give it the go-by — avoid, pur- 
posely ignore. 

Go to the dogs — become worth- 
less or outcast. 

The gift of the gab — natural 
fluency of speech. 

Give one fits — punish severely, 
drive to desperation. 

Go it blind — Take the risk. 

GO IT WITH A LOOSENESS — pros- 

ecute with reckless zeal. 

Goner — one lost, dead, or over- 
come. 

Good as wheat — very good, just 
the thing. 



104 



FIRST LESSONS IN 



Get the hang of — learn to 
handle or use. 

Green— inexperienced, raw. 

Gent — gentleman, man. 

Have a finger in the pie— 
have a share in. 

Have a screw loose — be in 
some respect at fault. 

On one's own hook — independ- 
ently, on one's own account. 

In a horn — ironically speaking. 

Draw in one's horns — cease to 
menace, retract. 

Set up a hulla-balloo — begin 
to cry loudly. 

Old hoss (for horse) — sir. 

Hang fire— delay. 

In clover — in pleasant circum- 
stances. 

Japonicadom — the fashionable 
class. 

To give one Jessie — to treat 
severely. 

To jew — to beat down in price. 

Keel over — to die. 

Keep shady — say nothing. 

Keep a stiff upper lip — main- 
tain one's composure, or one's 
resolution. 

Knock under — give up. 

Know the ropes — understand 
the details of a business, or 
the position of things. 

Kick— jilt. 

Loaf — lounge. 

Like blazes — violently. 

Let her slide or rip — let it 
proceed, do not interpose. 

Lean as a May SHAD-^very lean. 

Let the cat out of the bag— 
reveal the secret. 



Liquor — to take a dram. 

Little end of the horn — fail- 
ure. 

To find a mare's nest — to make 
a ridiculous and empty dis- 
covery. 

The main chance — the means 
of subsistence. 

Mum's the word — keep silent. 

Make no bones of — find no dif- 
ficulty in. 

Make tracks — go or run. 

Middling — tolerably. 

A nobody — an obscure person. 

Nip and tuck — -equal, fairly 
matched. 

No-how *) by no 

Not by a jug full J means. 

It aint nothing else — it is cer- 
tainly so. 

One-horse concern — an affair 
on a small scale. 

Offish — distant, unsociable. 

Old man— husband. 

Old gentleman — father. 

On hand — present. 

Like peas on a cowhide — with 
great rapidity. 

Play second fiddle — play a 
subordinate part. 

Poor as a church mouse — Poor 
as Job's turkey — extreme- 
ly poor. 

Pop the question — propose mar- 
riage. 

Plain as the nose on one's 
face- — too plain to be over- 
looked or misunderstood. 

Peg out — die. 

Pile — fortune, great profits. 

Played out — obsolete. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 



105 



Pont up — pay. 

Be on pins and needles — be 
uneasy. 

RIde a high house — live osten- 
tatiously. 

Rain cats and dogs — rain vio- 
lently. 

Raise Cain — make a violent 
noise. 

Rope in — decoy. 

Run one's pace — go on credit. 

Run into the ground — carry to 
excess. 

Spec — speculation. 

Specs — spectacles. 

Sheepskin — diploma. 

Slope — elope or retire. 

To spot — to mark, to notice. 

Streaked — embarrassed, con- 
fused. 

Set by the ears — put at vari- 
ance. 

See with half an eye — see 
easily or at a glance. 

Stir one's stumps — make haste. 

As sure as you are born — un- 
doubtedly, unquestionably. 

Sing small — make modest pre- 
tensions. 

Cast sheep's eyes — look as- 
kance. 



Cut up shines — frolic. 

Smell a rat — Suspect a trick. 

Spread like wild-fire — spread 
very rapidly. 

Sound on the goose — sound on 
the main question, having 
right principles. 

'No great scratch — not of much 
consequence. 

More than you can shake a 
stick at — innumerable. 

Soft solder — flattery. 

Some pumpkins — of some con- 
sideration. 

Spread one's self — make ut- 
most effort. 

Tight — tipsy. 

A tight — a strait. 

The ready 

The rhino 

The dust . . 

The tin . . . 

The dimes 

Teetotally — totally. 

Up to the hub — wholly. 

Use up — exhaust. 

"Walk into — punish severely. 

!No two ways about it — un- 
doubtedly so. 

The worst kind — extremely, to 
the utmost. 



money, the cash. 



Note. — It is proper here to say that departures from the strictest chastity of 
style are allowable, when it is the aim of the writer to cast ridicule or odium or 
contempt on a person or any other object. In such cases the style gains strength 
at the expense of chastity, and in the estimation of the writer and all who sympathize 
with him, the end justifies the means. Whether it does so or not must be deter- 
mined in each particular instance by individual taste. The tendency in young 
writers, when they wish to be either humorous or severe, is to excessive indulgence 
in vulgarism. 



106 FIRST LESSONS IN 

LESSON XLII. 

PRECISION. 

Pupil. What is meant by precision of diction ? 

Teacher. A writer is said to be precise in his diction, 
when he uses no more words than are necessary to con- 
vey his full meaning. 

Pupil. I do not see what would induce a person to 
use unnecessary words. 

Teacher. Sometimes it is the result of not under- 
standing the full meaning of words ; sometimes it proceeds 
from the mistaken notion that a person's style is strength- 
ened or beautified by the addition of words that are really 
unnecessary. And there is some ground for this opinion, 
for sometimes redundancies do have this effect. 

Pupil. What are redundancies ? 

Teacher. Medundant words are those that are not 
strictly necessary for the full expression of the thought. 
An expression that contains redundant words is called a 
pleonasm. 

Pupil. Are all pleonasms violations of precision ? 

Teacher. Not all of them; sometimes a redundant 
word adds some force to the expression, imparts some- 
thing to the sentence which the writer does not wish it 
to lose. In such a case, the seeming redundancy is jus- 
tifiable. 

I will here append a list of superfluous expressions 
which are often found in the style of untrained writers, 
and generally with no reason to justify their use. 



Advance forward. 
Keturn again. 
Eeturn back. 
Predict beforehand. 
Transcript copy. 



Eetreat backward. 
Eepeat again. 
First agressor. 
Old veteran. 
Verdant green. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 



107 



False traitor. 

Standard pattern. 

Sylvan forest. 

This here. 

From hence. 

Widow woman. 

Try an experiment. 

Substitute in the place of. 

Equally the same. 

Filled full. 

Both met together. 

Leisure on one's hand. 

Universal — of all men. 

Marry a wife. 

New beginner. 

Have got. 

Deliciously happy. 

More preferable. 

Umbrageous shade. 



Another one. 
That there. 
From whence. 
Fainted away. 
Twice over. 
Shrink smaller. ■ 
Since the time when. 
Free gratis. 
Mention over again. 
These six months past. 
No other person besides. 
Last final. 
Joyous bliss. 
Gleeful merriment. 
Throughout the whole of. 
Universal panacea. 
Must necessarily. 
Most principal. 
Both — same. 



There is another fault very similar to the one ex- 
plained above, which is also a violation of precision. It 
ds called tautology. 

Pupil. What is tautology ? 

Teacher. Tautology is a repetition of the same idea 
in different words. Sometimes it consists in connecting 
together in one compound term several synonymous 
words; as, — 

" These appearances are all counterfeit, deceptive, unreal, and 
illusory.' ' 

" For coolness, self-possession, presence of mind, and steadiness 
of nerve in moments of danger, he was unequaled." 

" These different classes do so mix, mingle, and commingle that 
they can scarcely be distinguished." 

At other times it consists in reiterating an idea in 
different clauses of the same sentence ; as, — 

11 Then the soul shall emerge from its clay tenement, the im- 
mortal part shall quit its earthy abode." 



108 



FIRST LESSONS IN 



Unless it is demanded by clearness or emphasis, tau- 
tology is a great blemish in style. 

I will here append a few of the tautologous combina- 
tions that are most frequently met with. 

The words marked by an asterisk (*) are not always tautological. 

Support and stay.* 
Wavering and unsettled. 
"Worship and adore. 



Acknowledge and confess. 
Bounds and limits. 
Clear and obvious * 
Plain and evident.* 
Advice and counsel. 
Confused and disordered. 
Effects and consequences. 
Fears and apprehensions. 
Assemble and meet together. 
Dissemble and cloak * 
Friendly and amicable. 
Governed and conducted* 
Intents and purposes.* 
Mild and meek * 
Obviate and prevent. 
Pleasure and satisfaction. 
Safe and secure. 
Special and particular. 



Support and bear up. 

Positive and peremptory. 

Certain and confident. 

Mutual to each other. 

Just and upright. 

Vice, sin, and immorality.* 

Agony and suffering. 

Solemn and pathetic* 

Euin and destruction. 

Anguish and grief. 

Temperance and abstinence. 

Acquiesce in and be satisfied 
with. 

Question minutely and exam- 
ine at length * 



SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

Hence, consequently, he must necessarily, therefore, be in error." 

At the sonorous sound of the last final trump, all the inanimate 
dead shall rise up into life again. 

The subject-matter of his discourse was excellent, but his style and 
manner of expressing himself were confused, disordered, and obscure. 

I will freely give you my advice and counsel gratis, and charge 
nothing. 

It is clear and obvious that he has no use for any of the laws and 
rules of versification. 

Alfred the Great, of England, was one of the most remarkable 
and distinguished men that we read of in the historical records of 
past ages. 

The man of probity and honesty will be trusted, and esteemed, 
and respected, and relied upon. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 109 

The mind and temper of him who is always continually in the 
bustle and turmoil of the world, will often be ruffled and frequently 
disturbed. 

He appears to enjoy the universal esteem of all men. 

This great politician always and in every case desisted from his 
designs and renounced them, when he found them to be imprac- 
ticable or incapable of performance. 

Thought and language act and react upon each other mutually. 

I am certain and confident that the account I have given is 
correct and true, and in accordance with the facts. 

The effects and consequences of such corruption and degeneracy 
are lamentable and deplorable. 

Another old veteran of the cross has fallen and departed this life. 

Our intercourse and association were all friendly and amicable 
until he married and became the husband of a wife. 

She writes very well for a new beginner ; I think she must take 
especial and particular pains to improve. 

They were both fellow-citizens of the same state. 



LESSON XLIII. 

EUPHONY OF DICTION. 

Pupil. What is euphony? 

Teacher. Euphony is pleasantness of sound. 

Pupil. What is meant by the euphony of diction ? 

Teacher. The diction of a writer is said to be eu- 
phonious when his discourse has a pleasing sound, as 
it is read or spoken. 

Pupil. I thought that depended upon the elocution 
of the reader or speaker. 

Teacher. It does to a great extent; but there is a 
difference in words themselves as to pleasantness or 
harshness of sound. Good taste requires that when 
there are two words, either of which would accurately 
express the meaning, we should use the one that sounds 
most pleasantly. 



HO FIRST LESSONS IN 

Pupil. Are there any rules by which we are to be 
guided as to pleasantness of sound? 

Teacher. The best test is the actual pronunciation 
of the word ; but by comparing together a great number 
of words, we find the following general principles gov- 
erning in this matter: 

1. "Words or combinations of words that repeat the same sound 
in rapid recurrence, are to be avoided. This is called tautophony. 

Examples: lowlily; ratiocination; been in intimacy. 

2. Words in which either consonants or vowels are crowded 
together, are to be avoided. 

Examples: pledg'd; burden'st; aeriform; buoying. 

3. "Words that contain several short unaccented syllables coming 
together, are to be avoided. 

Examples: derogatorily ; introductorily ; unprecedentedness ; 
imitativeness. 

4. "Words or combinations of words that bring together several 
long syllables, are unpleasant to the ear. 

Examples: household work ; an Iowa broad-horn ; landlord's 
rights. 

SENTENCES TO BE CRITICISED. 

He was mortifyingly reprimanded for the mischievousness of his 
behavior. 

A mild child is more liked than a wild child. 

It is he that has committed the deed, at least accessor ily. 

This is distinctly stated in an encyclical letter of that age. 

Proselytism prevails principally in the exclusive sects. 

Though religion will acknowledgedly bring us under some re- 
straints, they are very tolerable; and not only so, but on the whole, 
desirable. 

Ambition creates alienation, aversion, contention, dissension, and 
sedition. 

Maddest of all the contestants, thou rushedst into the midst of the 
hottest contest, and swervedst not. 

Sober-mindedness and shame-facedness are by some considered as 
evidence of virtuousness of principle. 

Hence the importance of compliance with precedents. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. m 

His disposition is not toward erudition, but to superficial acqui- 
sition of knowledge. 

It was not a proper occasion for the use of moral suasion. 

The habitual use of the written ritual rendered his performances 
formal. 

Providence delivered them up to themselves, and they tormented 
themselves. 



LESSON XLIV. 

NARRATION AND DESCRIPTION. 

Narration, in its purest form, is simply a relation of 
events in the order of their occurrence. But in this nude 
form it is hardly ever used in those compositions that are 
intended for entertainment. Narration becomes attract- 
ive and interesting when combined with other forms of 
composition, and chiefly with description. "Whenever the 
course of events brings to view any remarkable objects 
or personages, it is always in good taste to give some 
description of their appearance or character. 

In this comhined form of narration and description very easy 
exercises can be assigned, and such as will he more of a recreation 
than a task to the pupil. At the same time, so extensive is this field 
that it has afforded ample scope to the most "brilliant geniuses, and 
contains some of the most perfect specimens of style. 

In order to secure originality, it will he well at first to confine the 
pupil to the narration of such occurrences as he has actually wit- 
nessed or taken a part in. It is recommended that exercises of this 
kind he alternated with the lessons and exercises in punctuation 
which are prescribed in the following pages. 

SUBJECTS FOR COMPOSITIONS. 

1. The history of yesterday, or of some remarkable day, not 
long past. 

2. How we spent the last holiday. 

3. An account of a school celebration. 

4. A particular visit to a Sunday-school. 



112 FIRST LESSONS IN 

5. A particular attendance at church, with some account of the 
sermon. 

Note. — If the pupil is of sufficient age, this can be made a most improving 
exercise, as it may embrace a narrative of the walk or ride to the church, the 
people assembling there, the opening exercises, the manner of the preacher, his 
style, the scope of his remarks, and the effect of what he said, either upon the 
congregation or upon the writer. 

6. A visit to a friend in the city, if the pupil resides in the 
country ; to a friend in the country, if the pupil resides in the city. 

7. A ride or trip through the country. 

8. An excursion to a waterfall, a cave, a mountain, a mine, any 
kind of a mill or factory, an alms-house or asylum or any public 
building. 

9. A picnic or a fishing party. 
10. A hunting excursion. 

12. Any one of the ordinary pleasure-seeking occasions of the 
neighborhood or city. 

NOTE. — In this exercise, the pupil must be cautioned against writing on such 
occasions in general, or describing them as a class of events. He must narrate 
the incidents of a particular occasion; tell what happened and what he saw, then 
and there. 



It will readily occur to the teacher that exercises of this kind 
may advantageously be put in the form of letters. Let the pupil 
describe some little journey that he has actually made at some time 
or other, writing to a friend or relative as if from some place visited 
in the course of the journey, or as if at home after his return. Let 
him be encouraged in the letter to describe as well as he can all the 
interesting objects and persons that he saw, and to state his opinions 
about them. 

After some practice in the narration of trips or journeys that he 
has actually taken, he may be allowed to try his hand at imaginary 
travel. Let him write a letter as if from some distant place at which 
he has just arrived, and describe the events and scenes of the journey 
thither. This will put into requisition his geographical knowledge, 
and give abundant play to his fancy. But he must be cautioned 
against filling up his letter with such dry items of information as can 
be culled from his text-books, or copying the incidents from other 
travels. The letter must be strictly original. - 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 113 



RULES OF PUNCTUATION. 



LESSON XLV. 

SUBJECT-POINTING. 

§ 1. A simple sentence is one that contains but one 
proposition. 

§ 2. A simple sentence whose elements are arranged 
in a natural order, which contains no appositives or 
repetitions or compound terms or parenthetical expres- 
sion, need have no point except at its close. 

Examples. — The highest art of the mind of man is to possess 
itself with tranquillity in the hour of danger. 

Sincere respect for the men of early times may be joined with a 
clear perception of their weaknesses. 

Does the sanctity of the Sabbath depend upon the Creator's 
making the world in six literal days ? 

§ 3. When the logical subject is very long, so as to 
throw the grammatical subject some distance from the 
verb, a comma is generally necessary between the logical 
subject and predicate. 

Example. — The means resorted to by Justinian with a view to 
put an end to all the controversies arising on the application of 
scientific law,3 were as new as they were arbitrary. 

What is the grammatical subject of this sentence? What is the 
grammatical predicate? Why is there a comma placed be- 
tween the words law and were? 

§ 4. Even when the logical subject is not very long, 
yet if by the operation of any subsequent rule, a comma 
occurs in the course of it, another comma is generally 
placed between it and the logical predicate. 

8 



114 FIRST LESSONS IN 

Examples. — Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised above 
his fellows,4 spake. 

In this example a comma is inserted after Satan by the operation 
of a rule that is yet to be laid down. But a comma being there, 
one must be inserted between fellows and spake, according to 
the rule now given. 

The large volume of anecdotes of animals, interesting as its con- 
tents must be,4 has not yet been read. 

§ 5. If the logical subject ends with a verb, it is often 
necessary to put a comma after it, to prevent obscurity. 

Examples. — Whatever is,5 is right. 

The desire to be remembered, 5 has built the grandest structures 
on the globe. 

APPOSITIVES AND ADJECTIVE PHRASES. 

§ 6. Two or more words grouped together so as to form 
one complex name must not be separated by a comma. 

Examples. — Paul the Apostle; Peter the Great; the river Indus; 
the Rocky Mountains ; the Gulf of Mexico ; the king of England ; 
Jean Paul Richter, etc. 

§ 7. But if one of the words of such a group is clearly 
a noun in apposition with the preceding noun, and quite 
distinct from it, forming no part of the name, a comma 
should separate the appositives. 

Examples.: — This was evidently written by Paul,'? the apostle of 
the Gentiles. 

Have you ever read the life of Peter the Great,'? emperor of Kussia? 

Have you ever read the life of Peter,'? the great emperor of Eussia? 

Alfred,? king of England,4 may be' compared with David,? king 
of Israel. 

§ 8. But if one noun following another and referring 
to the same thing, is the secondary or attributive object 
of a transitive verb governing the first noun, then no 
comma should come between the primary and secondary 
object. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 115 

Examples. — We elected James 8 our captain, and started on the 
march. 

Here captain is the secondary object of the verb elected, and 
therefore no comma should separate it from James, the pri- 
mary object. 

§ 9. An adjective or participle phrase (not an adjunct), 
made to follow the noun which it modifies, is generally 
separated from it by a comma. 

§ 10. But if the adjective or participle phrase comes 
after the primary object of a verb, after the manner of 
a secondary or attributive object, no comma should in- 
tervene. 

Examples. — James,9 awkward in his person,4 was not qualified 
to command respect. 

Truth, 9 crushed to earth, 4 shall rise again. 

Hundreds of people,9- driven from their homes,4 suffer all the 
pains of hunger and exposure. 

Thomas rendered himself 10 useful to every one. 

I saw him 10 climbing the dangerous peak. 

His bad luck only made him 10 envious toward others more 
fortunate. 

EXERCISES. 

Let the pupil punctuate the following sentences, applying all the rules hereto- 
fore given. 

In the Greek language, the word "poet" denotes a maker a 
creator. 

The Apostle John was peculiarly beloved by his divine Master 
Jesus Christ the Savior of the world. 

General Washington the first president of the United States 
was a true patriot a genuine lover of his country. 

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus says, " Often return to your true 
mother Philosophy.' - 

Much stress was laid upon delivery by the most eloquent of all 
orators Demosthenes. 

London the capital of Great Britain contains nearly three millions 
of inhabitants. 

I recommend the reading of good books, as a source of improve- 
ment and delight. 



116 FIRST LESSONS IN 

The first expedition of Columbus was fitted out by John of Anjou 
Duke of Calabria. 

I Artaxerxes the king decree that whatsoever Ezra the priest 
the scribe of the law shall require shall be furnished him at the 
public expense. 

The capital of Turkey Constantinople is finely situated on the 
European side of the Bosphorus. 

And when the angel Death stands by, be thou my God my 
helper nigh. 

When, as returns this solemn day, man comes to meet his 
Maker God. 

The world-famed dramatist Shakespeare lived in the reign of the 
greatest of English queens Elizabeth. 

Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of 
Solomon. 

Diogenes the Greek philosopher lived in a tub. 

Johnson 7 s " Allegory of Criticism" an early paper in the 
"Rambler" is a pertinent illustration. 

Cato the elder one of the consuls of Rome never wore a coat 
which cost him above a hundred pence. 

Hope the balm of life soothes us under every misfortune. 

Nature has given some conceptions of immortality to men of 
every age. 

The earth>clod of the globe has been divinely breathed upon. 

Deviations from rectitude necessarily result in misery. 

He being dead unto this world's charms shall live all the more 
in the joyful realization of the world unseen. 

The poor being crowded in filth cease to respect one another. 

His being a scholar prevented any gross mistake in his style. 

He who masters his passions conquers his worst enemy. 

The idea of what ought to be rises from the bosom of what is. 

It needs a divine man to exhibit any thing divine. 

It is our duty to appropriate our time to valuable purposes. 

It is not in our power to change the established order of things. 

He who follows the pleasures of the world is in constant search 
of care and remorse. 

The soul overwhelmed with shame and remorse feels itself shut 
out from heaven. 

The truly benevolent full of desire to answer all demands do 
not think it troublesome to aid the wretched. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 117 

Peter the Hermit fanatic though he was stirred to action the 
holiest passions then known to mankind. 

Then Jesus, moved with compassion put forth his hand, and 
touched him, and said, "I will; be thou clean." 

A great and gloomy man the king sat upon the throne of his 
ancestors. 



LESSON XLYI. 

COMPOUND TERMS. 

§ 11. A compound term is one composed of two or 
more co-ordinate words, connected by a co-ordinating 
conjunction, expressed or understood. 

"Words are said to be co-ordinate when they are of the same part 
of speech, and sustain precisely the same relation to other 
words in the sentence, except it may be those words by which 
one of the co-ordinates is modified and not the others. 

§ 12. If a compound term consists of no more than 
two co-ordinates, and these words are accompanied by 
no modifiers except limiting adjectives, and if the con- 
junction is expressed between them, then no comma 
should intervene. 

§ 13. But if the conjunction is omitted, or if either 
one of the co-ordinates is accompanied by important 
modifying words, then a comma should be inserted be- 
tween them. 

"Examples. — Peter 12 and John went up into the temple to pray. 
Great ideas elevate 12 and ennoble the mind. 
Eichter said, "I love God 12 and little children." 
All great 12 and good men reverence the Bible. 
The useful 12 and the beautiful are never far apart. 
Tour letter is received,13 and placed on file. 
A fife,13 and a huge bass-drum constituted the entire band. 

§ 14. If a compound term consists of more than two 
co-ordinate words, these must be separated from one 



118 FIRST LESSONS IN 

another by commas, whether a connective is expressed 
or understood. 

§ 15. If the co-ordinates are coupled together in pairs, 
commas should separate the pairs, but not the individual 
words in each pair. 

Examples. — Matthew,l4 Mark,l4 Luke,14 and John are the four 
evangelists. 

The mind is that which knows,14 thinks,14 feels,14 and wills. 
Milton's poetry is always healthful,14 bright,14 and vigorous. 

Early to bed,13 and early to rise,4 

"Will make a man healthy,l4 and wealthy,14 and wise. 

When saw we thee ahungered,14 or athirst,14 or a stranger,14 or 
naked,l4 or sick,14 or in prison, and did not minister to thee. 

EXERCISES. 

Let the pupil supply points according to the foregoing rules. 

How many a knot of mystery and misunderstanding would be 
untied by one word spoken in simple and confiding truth of heart ! 

The balmy influences of neither sea nor sky could revive or restore 
that great man. 

The greatest genius is never so great as when it is chastised and 
subdued by the highest reason. 

The Greek and Koman writers were once understood and relished 
in a remarkable degree. 

If we would not like to be frightened or deceived ourselves, it can 
not be right to frighten or deceive others. 

The charms and beauty of Nature can truly delight him only who 
in her life views his own. 

Morality and religion itself, are degraded by the use of unmean- 
ing terms. 

Is it sickness or selfishness that spreads most misery through our 
homes ? 

The first end to which all wisdom or knowledge ought to be 
employed is to illustrate the wisdom and goodness of God. 

The young shepherd promised to buy me a pretty brown ribbon. 

All all, conjure us to act wisely faithfully, in the relation which 
we sustain. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 119 

The rosy-crowned Loves, with their many-twinkling feet, frisk 
with antic Sports and blue-eyed Pleasures. 

The intellect and the conscience are intimately indissolubly bound 
together. 

Not a few of the wisest grandest spirits have toiled at the work- 
bench and the plow. 

The human mind spreads its thoughts abroad into the immeasur- 
able the infinite. 

The recovery of our little darling dancing singing Mary is worth 
all the gold that ever was mined. 

Is a poet utterly deprived of fitting themes, to whom ocean earth 
and sky are open ? 

The hardships of a good life prove refine and exalt the human 
character. 

No one can find peace but in the growth of an enlightened firm 
benevolent holy mind. 

All that charms the eye or the ear or the imagination or the 
heart is the gift of God. 

Ease indulgence luxury sloth, are the sources of misery ; making 
a man a poor sordid selfish wretched being. 

True courage is the exercise result and expression of the highest 
attributes of our nature. 

All have some conceptions of truth kindness honesty self-denial 
and disinterestedness. 

Let us every day become more pure kind gentle patient spiritual 
and devout. 

The sphere in which we move and act and understand is of a wider 
circumference to one creature than another. 

Some have neither the resolution nor the power of carrying their 
projects to a completion. 

Pope examined lines and words with minute and punctilious 
observation. 

I would calmly and humbly submit myself to the good and blessed 
will of God. 

Let us greet and take by the hand, those who were our youthful 
companions. 

A thoughtless person perpetually acts and speaks as if it were of 
no consequence what is said or done. 

The most ferocious conflicts have been brightened by examples 
of magnanimous and patriotic virtue. 



120 FIRST LESSONS IN 

The human heart beats quick at the sight or hearing of cour- 
ageous and disinterested deeds. 

Let not the hours of hospitality and pleasure interfere with the 
discharge of our necessary duties. 

In buying and selling, we must not in any way cheat or overreach 
each other. 

Note.— "When the conjunction or is used to introduce 
an explanatory word or phrase, it should be preceded 
by a comma. 

Example.— -This little pit in the sand is formed by the ant- 
lion, or doodle-bug. 

The Hebrew is closely allied to the Arabic the Phoenician the 
old Persian the Syriac and the Chaldee. 

Our present knowledge thoughts feelings characters, are the results 
of former impressions passions and pursuits. 

In heaven live the friends benefactors deliverers and ornaments 
of their race. 

In a city there is much to inflame imbitter degrade, the minds of 
the poor. 

Some have unreasonably denied the strength and fervor and en- 
duringness of human love. 

Meekly truthfully disinterestedly, the dying man had trod the 
path of life. 

Fountains lakes and rivers are as refreshing to the imagination as 
to the soil through which they pass. 

The stoical sect was distinguished for producing the most active 
intrepid virtuous men that ever did honor to human nature. 

In God we see every thing that we can imagine as great glorious 
or amiable. 

We are surer that we think and feel and will than that we have 
solid and extended limbs and organs. 

Scholars have great pleasure in reading Herodotus Thucydides 
Xenophon Livy Sallust and Tacitus. 

The man of true refinement will not object to enter into the honest 
heartfelt enjoyments of common life. 

The sugar-cane and coffee-plant welcomed us from the snows of 
the Great St. Bernard. 

All things must work together for certain good, so long as we 
continue in free unconditional self-surrender to the service of God. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 121 

Life is to some a heavy benumbing weight of personal helpless- 
ness and desolation. 

No great social change, however beneficial, can occur without 
partial temporary pain. 

A diviner philosophy awakens the soul to earnest joyful effort for 
its own perfection. 



LESSON XLVII. 

TRANSPOSITION. 

§ 16. "When there is a transposition of the elements 
of a sentence, whereby any member, clause, phrase, or 
adjunct is thrown out of its natural place, the dislocated 
part of the sentence must be separated from the rest by 
one or two commas. 

To this rule there are the following three exceptions: 

§ 17. (1) When the sentence is not very long, and 
the inversion is so complete as to throw the subject last, 
no comma is required. 

§ 18. (2) When the transposition is made by placing 
a very short adjunct at the beginning of a sentence, the 
comma may be omitted, if the omission will not cause 
obscurity. 

§19. (3) Transpositions are so frequent and natural 
in poetry that the same strictness is not required in 
marking them as in prose. 

§ 20. Whenever an adjunct (a preposition with the 
word governed by it, with or without accompanying 
modifiers), is thrown at some distance from the word 
which it modifies, by the intervention of other words 
having precedence over the adjunct, it is generally nec- 
essary, for the sake of clearness, to place a comma before 
the adjunct. 



122 FIRST LESSONS IN 

Examples. — To those who labor, 16 sleep is doubly pleasant. 

Of all the passions, 16 pride is the most unsocial. 

All the appearances of nature,16 I was careful to study. 

Whether such a person as Homer ever existed, 16 we can not say. 

Whom he loveth,16 he chasteneth. 

" Life,"16 says Seneca,16 "is a voyage." 

Silver and goldl? navel? I none. 

A train-band captain eke was he. 

In infancy 18 the mind is peculiarly ductile. 

To thee 18 I pour my prayer. 

When first thy sire 19 to send 19 on earth 19 

Virtue,? his darling child,4 designed. 

You owe these efforts to be agreeable to all with whom you asso- 
ciate,^ at all times, 20 and in all places, 20 as a matter of politeness. 

Cultivate your intellectual powers, 20 especially by habits of study 
and reflection. 

(Observe that the adverb especially qualifies, not the verb 
cultivate , but the following adjunct ; hence the comma is 
placed before it, for it is a part of the adjunct.) 

EXERCISES. 

Let the pupil supply all the points according to the foregoing rules. 

In the acuteness of the external senses some of the inferior animals 
excel our species. 

Over matchless talents probity should throw its brightest luster. 

In every material action of your life consider well its probable 
result. 

Only in the light of a sublime faith can the history of our race be 
read without despondency. 

In the ruffled and angry hour we view every appearance through 
a false medium. 

In these hours of golden leisure my chief haunt is the banks of a 
small stream. 

This view of religion I propose to make the subject of some free 
discussion. 

On feelings allied to these priestcraft and sorcery have often 
fastened themselves. 

From the little root of a few letters science has spread its branches 
over all nature, and raised its head to the heavens. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 123 

How superior is the man of forbearance and gentleness to every 
other man in the collisions of society ! 

Christianity represents physical evil as the direct appointment of 
God's love under the guidance and control of his wisdom. 

The saint owes much of the grace and elegance of his spirit to the 
influences of sorrow in some form. 

A great mind is formed by a few great ideas not by an infinity 
of loose details. 

We can not bid farewell to so large a portion of human history 
without deep and earnest thought. 

But do not grumble over any evidences of ingratitude that you 
meet with from your friends even to your most intimate companions. 

In order to improve the mind we ought less to learn than to 
contemplate. 

With what you have be satisfied. 

All you hear believe not. 

In the hurry and eagerness of selfish competition we underrate 
the silent influence of moral character. 

When others are asleep in its own contemplations the soul finds 
a source of solace and pleasure. 

In not learning your business perfectly you can not give satisfac- 
tion to your employer. 

To every character its fitting position and appropriate function 
have been assigned. 

Of all the great men whom Germany has produced Luther has 
most German character. 

By doing nothing we learn to do ill. 

To command any subject adequately we must stand above it. 

Through the dim veil of the visible and perishing man catches a 
glimpse of the vast magnificence of the unseen and the eternal. 

Into every human being God has breathed an immortal soul. 



LESSON XLVIII. 

PARENTHETICALS AND INTERPOSITIONS. 

§ 21. Any word, phrase, or clause, that is inserted in 
a sentence to explain the leading proposition, or intro- 
duce an incidental remark, is called a parenthesis, and 



124 FIRST LESSONS IN 

must be designated as such by being inclosed in the 
curve marks (such as those which inclose this clause). 

Examples. — Matilda (21 such was the lady's name) 21 smiled 
sweetly at this address. 

Are you still (211 fear from the tone of your letter you must be)21 
troubled with these apprehensions? 

For I know that in me (21 that is, in my flesh)21 dwelleth no 
good thing. 

§ 22. Some recent writers use, instead of parenthetic 
curves, two dashes, to inclose a parenthesis; but the 
practice, though it may be tolerated, is hardly to be 
encouraged. 

§ 23. Sometimes a word, phrase, or clause, though 
properly belonging to the sentence, is introduced in 
such a manner as to interrupt the regular connection 
of the other words in the sentence, somewhat in the 
manner of a parenthesis. This is called an interposed 
word or phrase, and it must always be separated by 
points from the rest of the sentence. 

§ 24. If the interposed phrase is short and simple, 
so as to require no commas within it, a comma before 
and after it is proper. 

§ 25. But if it contains a comma in itself, then it 
may be preceded and followed by a dash. 

Examples. — The passions of mankind,23 however,23 frequently 
blind them. 

Nothing on earth,23 I tell you,23 could induce me to reveal it. 

Nations,23 as well as men,23 fail in nothing that they boldly and 
resolutely attempt. 

Every passion,23 however base or unworthy,23 is eloquent. 

I would stamp God's name,23 and not Satan's,23 upon every inno- 
cent pleasure. 

Milton was,23 like Dante,25 a statesman and a lover. 

In the heathen world, — 25 where man had no divine revelation, 
but followed the impulse of nature alone, — 25 religion was the basis 
of civil government. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 125 

§ 26. This rule may be interpreted to cover those forms 
of quotation in which the specification of the author is 
succinctly given near the beginning of the quotation. 

Examples.— " I am glad," 26 said the priest,26 "that you are 
come." • 

" With all thy getting, "26 says Solomon,26 "get understanding." 

EXERCISES. 

Let the pupil supply the points according to the foregoing rules. 

Here in all conscience he should have stopped. 

A contract to be valid must be for some legitimate object or 
purpose. 

Some men are refined like gold in the furnace of affliction. 

A single hour in the day steadily given to the study of an inter- 
esting subject brings unexpected accumulations of knowledge. 

Benevolence is on whatever side we may contemplate the subject 
a god-like virtue. 

True it is that were we cast from birth into solitude we should 
grow up in brutal ignorance. 

Excellence is in any position almost the infallible result of the 
determination to excel. 

" The virtuous man " it has been beautifully said "proceeds with- 
out constraint in the path of his duty." 

In Dante for the first time in an uninspired bard the dawn of a 
spiritual day breaks upon us. 

But when the subject for grief is fixed and inevitable sorrow is to 
be borne like pain. 

A people should honor and cultivate as unspeakably useful that 
literature which calls forth the highest faculties. 

Without fairness of mind which is only another phrase for dis- 
interested love of truth great native powers of understanding are 
perverted. 

Simple truths when simply explained are more easily compre- 
hended I believe than is commonly supposed. 

And if the intellect requires to be provided with perpetual objects 
what must it be with the affections ? 

I maintain, that as knowledge extends the range of all imagery 
is enlarged; and what is far more important that the conception 
kindles by the contemplation of higher objects. 



126 FIRST LESSONS IN 

Fanaticism in its ill sense is that which makes a man blind to 
perceive the falseness of an error. 

Washington's courage whether in battle or in council was as per- 
fect as might be expected from his pure and steady temper of soul. 

The love of the beautiful and true like the dew-drop in the heart 
of the crystal remains forever clear ?tnd liquid in the inmost shrine 
of man's being. 

Numerous instances there have been as every reader knows of 
those who have thrown down every obstacle in the way of their 
mental elevation. 

We can not see an individual expire though a stranger or an 
enemy without being prompted by compassion to lend him every 
assistance in our power. 

Not a few are the incitements of the working classes would they 
were greater ! to the accumulation of property, and even to the 
investment of land. 

There is nothing that we call a good which may not be converted 
into a curse that is, nothing that is providential or external, and not 
of the soul ; nor is there an evil of that nature which is not thoroughly 
a good. 

Under G-od, and by those spiritual aids which are ever vouch- 
safed in exact proportion to our endeavors to obtain them, how 
gracious and glorious is this truth ! we are morally and religiously, 
as well as intellectually, the makers of ourselves. 

There is a power have you not felt it ? in the presence, conversa- 
tion, and example of a man of strong principle and magnanimity, 
to lift us at least for the moment from our vulgar and tame habits 
of thought, and to kindle some generous aspirations after the excel- 
lence which we were made to attain. 

I mention these instances, not to undervalue science it would be 
folly to attempt that ; for science, when true to its name, is true 
knowledge , but to show that its name is sometimes wrongfully 
assumed, and that its professors when not guided by humility may 
prove but misleading counselors. 

No lesson of a practical kind and all lessons ought to be practical 
requires to be so often repeated as that which enjoins upon the mind 
a state of passivity; for what an electrical thing is it! How does it 
dart forth after this and that, flitting from sweet to sweet for it never 
willingly tastes of bitter things, and " feeding itself without fear" ! 

Inquiring the road to Merlington, I addressed him by the name 
of Honesty. The fellow whether to show his wit before his mistress, 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 127 

or whether lie was displeased with my familiarity, I can not tell 
directed me to follow a part of my face which, I was well assured, 
could be no guide to me, and which the other parts would follow 
of consequence. 

Socrates has often expressly said, that he considered human life 
in general and without doubt the state of the world in his day must 
have eminently tended to make him so consider it in the light of an 
imprisonment of the soul, or of a malady under which the nobler 
spirit is condemned to linger, until it be set free and purified by the 
healing touch of death. 



LESSOR XLIX. 

INDEPENDENTS AND CONTEXTUALS. 

§ 27. All words and phrases that are either independ- 
ent (absolute) or contextual, or in any manner uncon- 
nected with the structural part of the sentence, must be 
separated from it by one comma, or two if necessary. 

Contextual words are those that indicate the connection of the 
sentence, as a whole, with the paragraph, or the body of the discourse. 

It must be borne in mind that sometimes a word is rendered inde- 
pendent by a change in the construction of the sentence. Eor example, 
"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." 

The comma comes after hear, because the first part of the sentence 
is made independent by change of structure. 

To the foregoing rules there are two exceptions : 

§ 28. (1) Interjections, exclamations, and some voca- 
tive words and phrases are followed by the exclamation 
point. 

§ 29. (2) The responsive words, yes, yea, no, nay, are 
sometimes separated from the rest of the sentence by a 
comma, a semicolon, or even a colon, according to the 
closeness of the connection implied. 

Examples. — Secohdly,27 this conduct is forbidden in the Bible, 
in express terms. 

Unquestionably, 2 ? Napoleon was a genius. 



128 FIRST LESSONS IN 

In the last placed? my hearers,27 this is a word of comfort. 

Generally speaking/? the slaves were contented. 

"Why ,27 this is rank injustice. 

Well,27 do as you please. 

Boy ,27 bring me my horse. 

Come, 27 Anthony, 27 and young Octavius,27 come, 27 revenge 

yourselves alone on Cassius. 

To return to my subject, 27 I would remark that these principles 
are acknowledged by all who have discussed the question. 

This said,?7 he formed thee,27 Adam,27— thee,27 O man! 

Merciful heaven! 28 how can we save him? 

Alas! 28 my noble boy !28 that thou shouldst die! 

Soldiers and fellow-citizens ! 28 I congratulate you on this victory. 

Yes,29 and he has broken the pitcher.— No,29 he hasn't. 

Yes ; 29 mother says those talk most who think least. 

Has he left you? — Yes: 29 but I care not. 

EXERCISE. 

Let the pupil supply the points according to the foregoing rules. 

Continue my dear James to make virtue your principal study. 

Acquire my daughters the habit of doing every thing well. 

Descend from heaven Urania. 

Sir the declaration will inspire the people with increased courage. 

This my lords is a perilous and tremendous moment. 

Yerres what have you to advance against this charge ? 

Morning is the best time to study my dear children. 

Thou who despisest the outward forms lose not the inward spirit. 

Whose gray top shall tremble he descending. 

The baptism of John was it from heaven or of men. 

This point admitted we proceed to the next division of our subject. 

The boy oh! where was he? 

Man to man steel to steel they met their enemy. 

Shame being lost all virtue is lost. 

Their countenances expressive of deep humiliation they entered 
the palace. 

O wretched we devoid of hope and comfort. 

That man of sorrow oh how changed he was to those who now 
beheld him. 

The conquest of Spain their object they left no means untried for 
effecting a landing on the Peninsula. 

Honor once lost life is worthless. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 129 

The summing up having been completed on both sides the judge 
next proceeded to charge the jury. 

I whither can I go ? 

Our time how swiftly it passes away ! 

Her dimples and pleasant smile how beautiful they are ! 

My banks they are covered with bees. 

The companion of my infancy and friend of my riper years she 
has gone to her rest and left me to deplore my bereavement. 

Earthly happiness what is it where can it be found ? 

The bride she smiled ; and the bride she blushed. 

On the contrary I believe that truth is the great inspirer. 

Undoubtedly the statement he made is false. 

But lastly let us examine the truth of these arguments. 

There are to confess tl^e truth few who are fully qualified for the 
high office of governing their fellows. 

Home Tooke having taken orders he was refused admission to 
the bar. 

A state of ease is generally speaking more attainable than a state 
of pleasure. 

Virtue being abandoned we become terrified with imaginary evils. 

Those who are truly my friends let them come to my assistance. 

To take some men at their word you would suppose they believed 
only one class in society entitled to consideration. 

This gentleman take him for all in all possessed a greater variety 
of knowledge than any man I ever knew. 

The prince his father being dead succeeded to the throne. 

This is to say nothing worse highly reprehensible. 



LESSOR L. 

ENUMERATIONS. 

§ 30. When there is an enumeration of items, or 
examples, or particulars, if it is formally introduced by 
such words as thus, following, as follows, this, these, etc., 
the whole enumeration must be preceded by a colon, and 
the several items separated by semicolons or commas, 
according to their length. 

9 



130 FIRST LESSONS IN 

§ 31. But if no such formal introductory word is 
used, and if the enumeration comes at the end of a 
sentence, a semicolon must precede it, and commas must 
separate the items. 

§ 32. Sometimes it is thought desirable to denote 
the enumeration in the form of a column or vertical 
list, still retaining its sentential connection with the 
foregoing matter. In that case a dash must precede 
the enumeration. 

§ 33. If an enumeration is introduced into the very 
body of a sentence, whether preceded by the connective 
as or not, it is to be accompanied and separated by 
commas throughout. 

Examples. — The human family is composed of five races, as 
follows: 30 the Caucasian,30 the Mongolian,30 the American,30 the 
May lay an, 30 and the African. 

There are four genders; 31 the masculine, 31 the feminine,31 the 
common, 31 and the neuter. 

I will put these articles to you at the following prices, viz. — 32 
Sugar @ 18 cents; 30 
Coffee @ 32 " 
Eice @ 15 " 
Articles for which we are dependent on foreign commerce, — as 
coffee,33 tea,33 pepper, 33 cinnamon, 33 and spice, — are,23 after all,23 
not among the necessaries of life. 

THE COINCIDING OF POINTS. 

§ 34. Whenever two rules coincide in requiring a point 
at one place, the greater point supersedes the less. But 
if one of them is a dash, or the period indicating an 
abbreviation, both points should be used. Nevertheless, 
with the single exception of the exclamation point, it is 
not allowed to double any point. 

Examples. — The question, What is beauty ? 34 it will puzzle any 
one to answer. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 131 

If he desires the degree oi A. Jtt.,34 let him see that he deserves it. 
I take — 34 eh! — 34 as much * exercise — 34 eh! — 34 as I can. 2? 
Madam Gout. 

EXERCISES TO BE PUNCTUATED 

The inseparable preposition pre is derived from the Latin prce; 
as in " prefix prejudice predetermine." 

Some men distinguish the period of the vrorld into four ages viz. 
the golden age the silver age the brazen age and the iron age. 

Logicians say that the operations of the mind are three namely 
1. Simple apprehension 2. Judgment 3. Discourse or reasoning. 

Our duties to individuals are classed under four heads viz. as 
arising from affinity friendship benefits received contract. 

Find the increase in the population from 1790 to 1800 to 1810 
1820 1830 1830 1840 1850 from 1800 to 1810 1810 to 1850. 

Messrs "Wright. Handy and Co to Elias Webb debtors to 4 hhds. 
Prime Sugar 64 ewt at $11 per ewt $704.00 5 tierces Clean Eice 
40 ewt at $9 per ewt. $360.00 Total $1004.00 Received payment 
July 12th 1870 Elias TVzbb 

(Put the foregoing in bill form and punctuate.) 



LESSOX LI. 

COMPLEX SENTENCES. 

§ 35. A complex sentence is one that contains two or 
more propositions, one of which is called the leading or 
principal clause, and the others modify either the entire 
predicate of that clause or else some single word in the 
clause. These are called subordinate clauses. 

§ 36. A subordinate clause modifying some single 
word of the leading clause is said to he restrictive^ when 
it is essential to the meaning of that word, as it is in- 
tended to be taken in the sentence. 

Examples. — The man who is my friend would not speak so. 
The clause who . n £ is the subordinate clause, and 

modifies the noun man. It is also restrictive, because it is 
essential to the meaning of the term the man. 



132 FIRST LESSONS IN 

George Young, who is my friend, has arrived in the city. 

In this sentence the very sarhe words, ivho is my friend, con- 
stitute the subordinate clause, and modify the name George 
Young. But the clause is not restrictive, for, if it were 
omitted, it would not affect the meaning or truth of the 
leading clause, George Young has arrived in the city. 

§ 37. Every subordinate clause of a complex sen- 
tence MUST BE SEPARATED FROM ITS LEADING CLAUSE BY 
A COMMA OR COMMAS. 

Except in the following cases: 
§ 38. I. When either the leading clause or the subor- 
dinate clause is very short, and the latter comes directly 
after the former ; 

§ 39. II. When the subordinate is a dependent sub- 
stantive clause, and comes after the leading verb ; 

§ 40. III. When the subordinate is a restrictive clause, 
and closely" connected to the word which it modifies by 
a relative pronoun or a conjunctive adverb ; 

§ 41. IV. When the subordinate is introduced by one 
of the conjunctions that, as, or than, referring to a cor- 
responding word in the leading clause. The correspond- 
ing words or antecedents preceding these conjunctions 
that do not allow a comma to separate them, are : 

^ I before that; 

AT S , i before as: 
Not so) ' 

Other 1 

Else V before than. 
or any comparative J 

§ 42. Caution. — It must be observed, however, that the 
foregoing exceptions are overruled, and do not apply in the 
following cases : 

§ 43. I. When the subordinate precedes the leading 
clause (by § 16) * 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 133 

§ 44. II. When the subordinate clause is considerably 
removed from the word which it modifies, by other words 
intervening ; 

§ 45. III. When the term modified by the subordinate 
clause is compound; 

§ 46. IV. When there are several subordinate clauses 
modifying the same term. 

Examples. — Wealth is of no real use, 37 unless it be well em- 
ployed. 

Decide not by authoritative rules,37 when they are inconsistent 
with reason. 

We obey the laws of society, 37 because they are the laws of virtue. 

If their lungs receive our air, 37 that moment they are free. 

We would be ashamed of many of our actions, 37 were the world 
acquainted with our motives. 

Tell me3S when you expect your brother to arrive. 

Socrates said 39 that he believed in the immortality of the soul. 

I will go 40 whither thou goest. 

He went away 38 when I came. 

Go 38 where glory waits thee. 

When beggars die,43 there are no comets seen. 

Socrates announced to his companions, 37 as they stood weeping 
around him, 44 that he believed in the immortality of the soul. 

He will capture all the horses,l4 mules, 14 and cattle,45 that he 
may meet in his march. 

Come, 46 when you please, 46 as you please, 46 with whom you please. 

What is more wonderful than the human eye,37 that sees all 
around. 

Eemember whose eye it is 40 that sees you. 

He was so much agitated 41 that he could not speak. 

It is better to trust in the Lord 41 than to put confidence in man. 

Hear the words 40 that I speak to thee. 

So shall my word be, 37 that goeth out of my mouth. 

Honor thy father and thy mother, 37 that thy days may be long 
in the land. 

I will now retire, 37 as I am no longer wanted. 

I will now retire 40 as I entered. 



134 FIRST LESSONS IN 

EXERCISES. 

Punctuate according to the foregoing rules. 

There is a philosophic spirit which is far more valuable than any 
limited acquirements of philosophy. 

We read with a reverential love of men devoting themselves to 
the interests of humanity. 

The lever which moves the world of mind is emphatically the 
printing-press. 

Youth is introductory to manhood to which it is a state of prep- 
aration. 

To the Father of lights in whom there is no darkness are we 
indebted for all the blessings we enjoy. 

Some countries are infested with bands of robbers who attack 
travelers in the open day. 

Set at naught the grosser pleasures of sense whereof others are 
slaves. 

May we be living flowers in those everlasting gardens of the Lord 
where angels and seraphs are the guardians ! 

Antiquity would have raised altars to that vast and mighty genius 
who for the advantage of human kind could tame the rage of thunder 
and of despotism. 

The brightest part of thy life is nothing but a flower which withers 
almost as soon as it has blown. 

Columbus was sent to the University of Padua where he acquired 
such knowledge as was then taught. 

Does the sentiment of patriotism reign in the common soldier who 
hires himself to be shot at for a few cents a day. 

A government directing itself resolutely and steadily to the 
general good becomes a minister of virtue. 

The entrance on a new course awakens new energies and powers 
which rapidly unfold into life and vigor. 

The tribes that expose new-born infants condemn those who 
abandon their decrepit parents to destruction. 

The father of history was Herodotus from whom we have an 
account of the Persian war. 

No man can be a thorough proficient in navigation who has never 
been at sea. 

We should trace in all events the wisdom and benevolence of God 
from whom descendeth every good and perfect gift. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 135 

A good reader will often pause where no grammarian would 
insert a point ; and on the other hand he will sometimes neglect the 
commas he finds inserted by the writer. 

The doll-shop is as fit a place for studying character as the fashion- 
able dinner-party, the assembly, or the ball-room. 

Better live an honest poor man than die a selfish and grasping 
millionaire. 

The rarer the beauty of the external scene the deeper should be 
the impression of the unseen God. 

The evidence of things invisible can never be such as those who 
rely on purely intellectual assurance will demand. 

The more a man speaks of himself the less he likes to hear another 
spoken of. 

Nothing appears to us so beautiful in human experience as the 
reciprocal affection of parents and children. 

The progress of some men is so rapid that they keep ahead of 
common sense. 

Art is capable of not only imitating Nature in her graces but even 
of adorning her with graces of her own. 

Eather do good than seem to be good. 

So live with men as if God saw you. 

Either the mere will of the magistrate or the conscience of the 
individual must decide in the case. 

I am as much known to God as if I were the single object of his 
attention. 

Some people endeavor to divert their thoughts lest their minds 
should reproach them. 

"We were present when General Lafayette embarked at Havre for 
New York. 

If there be nothing celestial without us it is only because all is 
earthly within. 

Let all dispose their hours till midnight when again we pray 
your presence. 

In how small a compass lie all the elements of man's truest hap- 
piness if society were only conducted in a rational spirit ! 

Suppress the first desires of evil as soon as they arise, and extin- 
guish the spark before it spreads. 

There never is true eloquence except when great principles and 
sentiments have entered into the substance of the soul. 

We live that we may die. 

Attend that you may receive instruction. 



136 FIRST LESSONS IN 

If women fulfilled truly their divine errand there would be no need 
of reforming societies. 

We compare the divine Mind with ours that we may have some- 
thing within the grasp of our reason to dwell upon. 

It is the spirit or motive with which we may do any work that 
constitutes it base or noble. 

There was nothing in the mind of Jesus of which you have not 
the principle and the capacity in yourself. 

Science and Poetry equally recognizing the order and the beauty 
of the universe are alike handmaids of Devotion. 

Go not from the world with the joyless consciousness of those to 
whom the fountains of its purest bliss have been sealed. 

Aid in reforming those social abuses the existence of which casts 
a gloom and blight on the happiness of all. 

The benefit arising to us from an enlarged understanding can not 
well be overrated. 

The seeds of genius which contain within themselves the germs 
of expanded beauties and divinest sublimities can not perish. 

You may treat life as a problem which has to be wrought out to 
a successful result. 

The memory of the eyes that hung over a man in infancy and 
childhood will haunt him through all his after life. 

The Greeks may well boast of having produced a Euclid whose 
works are esteemed even by the profoundest mathematicians in 
modern times. 

When the great man is laid in his grave lies of malice are apt to 
give way to lies of adulation. 

A man may comfort himself for the wrinkles in his face provided 
his heart be fortified with virtue. 

We can not turn in any direction where the Creator's love does 
not smile around us. 

Unless he put a bridle upon his tongue the babbler will soon shut 
himself out from all society. 

Have respect for yourself that others may not disrespect you. 

Where true religion has prevented one crime false religions have 
afforded a pretext for a thousand. 

Eemember your own feelings in order that you may judge of the 
feelings of others. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 137 

LESSON LII. 

COMPOUND SENTENCES. 

§ 47. A compound sentence is one that is composed 
of two or more propositions, neither of which modifies 
any part of the other or others. 

The parts or propositions composing a compound sen- 
tence, are called, not its clauses, but its members. 

§ 48. If a conjunction is used to connect the members 
of a compound sentence, it must be a co-ordinating con- 
junction : very often no connective whatever is used. 

§ 49. In some cases the last member of a compound 
sentence is connected to the preceding by a relative pro- 
noun or conjunctive adverb, whose antecedent is no 
particular word in the foregoing member, but the fact 
expressed by the whole proposition. 

The members of a full compound sentence are sep- 
arated either by a colon, a semicolon, or a comma : 

§ 50. I. A colon, if the members are long, and no 
connective is expressed; 

§ 51. II. A semicolon, if the members are short, and 
there is no connective, or long, with a connective ; 

§ 52. III. A comma, if the members are short, and 
the connective is expressed. 

Examples. — Satire should not be like a saw, but a sword: 50 it 
should cut and not mangle. 

Do not think yourself perfect j 51 it is human to err. 

Harbor no malice in thy heart ; 51 it will be a viper in thy bosom. 

It is unworthy of one great people to think falsely of another : 50 
it is unjust,52 and therefore it is unworthy. 

Beligion must be the spirit of every hour j 51 but it can not be 
the meditation of every hour. 

He is a freeman whom the truth makes free, 52 and all are 
slaves beside. 



138 FIRST LESSONS IN 

The Jews ruin themselves at their Passover; 51 the Moors, at 
their marriages ;5l and the Christians in their law-suits. 

Scott built a castle, 52 p u t he broke his heart. 

I have promised to pay it, 52 and I will pay it. 

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me; 51 
and I say to this man.,37 "Go, "52 and he goeth;5i and to another, 37 
"Come, "52 and he cometh;5i and to my servant,37 "Do this," 52 
and he doeth it. 

He will not take the prescribed remedies ;5i which makes his 
case hopeless. 

They obstinately refused to give bail; 51 whereupon the judge 
remanded them to prison. 

They desired that we should remember the poor; 51 the same 
which I also was forward to do. 

He has consented to insert the word in the bill ; 51 which is all 
that I asked. 

EXERCISES TO BE PUNCTUATED. 

Make a proper use of your time for the loss of it can never be 
regained. 

Truth will pass down in fragments to posterity but posterity will 
collect and compose them into a whole. 

Ivy is the beauty of old ruins and your faith is not unlike it for it 
springs up as strongly from amidst fallen hopes. 

The most exact economy was observed yet nothing was mean or 
uncomfortable. 

Chaucer followed Nature everywhere but never went beyond her. 

Good and evil are inseparable companions but the latter often 
hides behind the back of the former. 

The proud have no friends in prosperity for then they know 
nooody and none in adversity for then no one knows them. 

Property left to a child may soon be lost but the inheritance of 
virtue will abide forever. 

Outward suffering is the lot of human nature and it is cheering to 
see it bravely borne even on the battle-field. 

The study of truth is perpetually joined with the love of virtue 
for there is no virtue which derives not its origin from truth. 

A little philosophy inclineth men's minds to atheism but depth in 
philosophy bringeth men's minds to religion. 

Some persons make a long story short but most persons make a 
short story long. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. I39 

Very few works of this class possessed any literary merit but many 
of them are valuable or curious as records of facts. 

Great events give scope for great virtues but the main tenor of 
human life is composed of small occurrences. 

The esteem of wise and good men is the greatest of all temporal 
encouragements to virtue and it is the mark of an abandoned spirit 
to have no regard for it. 

The great national epochs are also the epochs of intellectual culti- 
vation and, accordingly, our literary annals may be arranged in four 
successive periods. 

When a writer reasons we look only for perspicuity when he 
describes we expect embellishments when he decides or relates we 
desire plainness and simplicity. 

The Christian orator speaks the truth plainly to his hearers he 
awakens them he shows them their impending danger he excites 
them to action. 

The temples are profaned the soldier's curse resounds in the house 
of G-od the marble pavement is trampled by iron hoofs horses neigh 
beside the altar. 

The silence of nature is more impressive would we understand it 
than any speech could be it expresses what no speech can utter. 

The philosophies of antiquity addressed themselves to the intellect 
the simple words of Jesus lay hold of the heart. 

Contemporaries appreciate the man rather than his merit posterity 
will regard the merit rather than the man. 

The actions of men are like the index of a book they point out 
what is most remarkable in them. 

Character is like stock in trade the more of it a man possesses the 
greater his facilities for making additions to it. 

Men are often warned against old prejudices I would rather warn 
them against new conceits. 

The greatness of a gift can not be determined by its absolute 
amount it can be truly ascertained only by a moral standard. 

It is with narrow-souled people as with narrow-necked bottles the 
less they have in them the more noise they make in pouring it out. 

He is poor perhaps his plans have been defeated he finds it difficult 
to provide for the exigencies of life sickness is permitted to invade the 
quiet of his household long confinement imprisons his activity. 

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods there is a rapture on the 
lonely shore there is society where none intrudes by the deep sea and 
music in its roar. 



140 FIRST LESSONS IN 

Full many a gem of purest ray serene the dark unfathomed caves 
of ocean bear full many a flower is born to blush unseen and waste its 
sweetness on the desert air. 

In reading a classical poet we feel as if we had entered a marble 
temple where a cool silence reigns a few quiet statues gleam around 
us pure and naked a few short inscriptions tell of the deeds of heroes 
all is calm grand and simple to the highest perfection of art. 

Genius mental power has surrounded your homes with comfort it 
has given you the command of the blind forces of matter it has exalted 
and consecrated your affections it has brought God's immeasurable 
universe nearer to your hearts and imaginations it has made flowers 
of paradise spring up even in poor men's gardens. 



LESSON LIII. 

VARIETIES OF COMPOUND SENTENCES. 

§ 53. One or more of the members of a compound sen- 
tence may be a complex sentence. 

§ 54. Either of the clauses of a complex sentence may 
be a compound sentence. 

§ 55. When either of the clauses of a complex sentence, 
or of the members of a compound sentence, is broken 
into fragments by interstitial or subordinate interclausal 
points, the greater interclausal point should be elevated, 
if a comma, into a semicolon ; if a semicolon, into a colon ; 
in order to mark out clearly the construction of the 
entire sentence. 

Examples. — Melissa, like the bee, gathers honey from every 
weed; 55 while Arachne, like the spider, sucks poison from the 
fairest flowers. 

Music should be cultivated, 35 because it is an innocent and 
refining entertainment ; 55 but it should not be allowed to engross 
the whole mind of a man, 35 which was made for nobler employment. 

"When we combat error with force,! 4 or fraud, 14 or sophistry ; 55 
we err more than those whom we attack,52 an d retard the cause of 
truth. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 141 

§ 56. Wherever the observance of the foregoing rule 
would defeat the very object of it, that is, render the 
sentence more obscure, it must not be insisted on. 

§ 57. When the members of a compound sentence 
would have, when fully expressed, any element in com- 
mon, they may, by omitting the repetition of the common 
element, be combined into a shorter sentence, called a 
partial compound sentence. 

§ 58. The parts of a partial compound sentence are 
separated by commas, only requiring a semicolon when 
the rule in § 55 would apply. 

Example. — Highlands replenishes lowlands exhaust,58 the stock 
of human life. 

§ 59. Both a compound and a complex sentence may 
be contracted by an ellipsis ; omitting from one member 
or clause, some term that may be easily supplied from 
the other. 

§ 60. An ellipsis in a compound sentence is generally 
indicated by a comma ; an ellipsis in a complex sentence 
rarely requires a comma. 

Examples. — A wise man seeks to shine in himself; 51 a fool,60 
to outshine others. 

Kashness is the error of youth ; 51 timid caution, 60 of age. 

Your patrons will soon become dissatisfied, 37 if 60 not so60 already. 

Can you,24 with your logic,24 persuade more people than he,60 
with his eloquence? 

EXERCISES TO BE PUNCTUATED. 

The first ingredient in conversation is truth the next good sense 
the third good humor and the fourth wit. 

A pictured landscape recalls a familiar scene and a portrait a 
familiar countenance. 

Talent is full of thoughts genius of thought. One has definite 
acquisitions the other indefinite power. 

Addison taught the intellect and fancy and Eichardson the 
passions to move at the command of virtue. 



142 FIRST LESSONS IN 

To mourn without measure is folly not to mourn at all insen- 
sibility. 

The young are slaves to novelty the old to custom the middle- 
aged to both the dead to neither. 

Custom respects things which are done by the majority habit 
those which are done by individuals. 

A man's true prosperity often begins when he is said to be ruined 
and his ruin when he is said to be prospering. 

Delicacy leans more to feeling correctness more to reason and 
judgment. The former is the gift of nature the latter more the 
product of culture and art. 

Hurry is the mark of a weak mind dispatch of a strong one. 

"When we look up to heaven, and behold the sun shining in glory 
or the moon and the stars walking in brightness untaught nature 
prompts us to adore Him who made them to bow down and worship 
in the temple not made with hands. 

Wordsworth in his poetry works out wisdom as it comes from the 
common heart of man, and appeals to that heart in turn causing us 
to recognize the truth that there is something in humanity which 
deserves alike our love and reverence. 

The most precious of all possessions is power over ourselves power 
to withstand trial to bear suffering to front danger power over 
pleasure and pain power to follow our convictions however resisted 
by menace and scorn the power of calm reliance in scenes of darkness 
and storms. 

As we trust the long-tried affection of a human friend when for 
reasons satisfactory to him he now and then withholds from us his 
ultimate purposes so pious souls acquiescing in ignorance and con- 
scious of absolute dependence on the Parent Mind dissolve their fears 
and their doubts in perfect faith. 

There cold and lifeless is the heart which just now was the seat 
of friendship there dim and sightless is the eye whose radiant and 
enlivening orb beamed with intelligence and there closed forever are 
those lips on whose persuasive accents we have so often and so lately 
hung with transport. 

A year is much in human life particularly to the very young and 
very old. 

The first indications of genius disclose themselves at a very early 
period. 

Follow the perfections of your enemies rather than the errors of 
your friends. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 143 

Christianity represents physical evil as the direct appointment of 
God's love. 

The active mind of man seldom or never rests satisfied with its 
present condition how prosperous soever. 

The saint owes much of the grace and elegance of his spirit to the 
influences of sorrow in some form. 

We can not bid farewell to so large a portion of human history 
without deep and earnest thought. 

Herbert always attracted friends and strangers by the elegance 
and benignity of his manners. 

Law should not be the rich man's luxury, but the poor man's 
remedy. 

Let your affections be cultivated with ardor and purity through 
all the successive periods of life. 

Shake not the credit of others in endeavoring to establish your own. 

Half of what passes among men for talent is nothing but strong 
health. 

"Who can look on this scene without an increase of love and 
reverence and trust. 

The soul is nursed for heaven by the discipline of a sacred sorrow. 

Some men put on the appearance of virtue in order to succeed in 
their nefarious enterprises. 

Let us not think of the departed as looking on us with earthly 
partial affections. 

Is there any splendor to be found in distant travels beyond that 
which sits its morning throne in the golden east ; any dome sublimer 
than that of heaven any beauty fairer than that of the verdant and 
blossoming earth any place, though invested with all the sanctities of 
old time like that home which is hushed and folded within the embrace 
of the humblest wall and roof 

Happy thrice happy he who relies on the eternity of the soul who 
believes as the loved fall one after one from his side that they have 
returned to their native country who feels that each treasure of knowl- 
edge he attains he carries with him through illimitable being who sees 
in virtue the essence and the element of the world he is to inherit. 

The Pyrrhonists not only doubted of every thing they saw and 
heard but of their own existence. 

A lofty rectitude marked every small as well as every great action 
of Washington's life. 

The treasures of wisdom are not to be seized with a violent hand 
but to be earned by persevering labor. 



144 FIRST LESSONS IN 

Those who flatter the prejudices of others are the enemies not the 
friends of the improvement and happiness of mankind. 

God's love to us is not a technical dogma but a living and prac- 
tical truth. 

Christianity may harmonize with but it needs not the sanction 
of philosophy. 

Knowledge is conducive if not essential to all the ends of virtue. 

Most of Homer's defects may reasonably be imputed not to his 
genius but to the manners of the age in which he lived. 

The great object of education is not to store the mind with knowl- 
edge but to give activity and vigor to its powers. 

Motives of the most sincere though fanciful devotion induced the 
old man to renew the half-defaced inscriptions on the tombs of his 
ancestors. 

The missionary went forth not only with the wisdom of the 
serpent but with the simplicity of the dove to do battle against every 
form of error and vice. 

There are men whose powers operate in leisure and in retirement 
and whose intellectual vigor deserts them in conversation whom 
merriment confuses and objection disconcerts whose bashfulness 
restrains their exertion and suffers them not to speak till the time 
for speaking is past or whose attention to their own character makes 
them unwilling to utter at hazard what has not been considered and 
can not be recalled. 

If thou hast never tasted the holy peace which descends into the 
simplest heart when it fervently realizes the presence of God if no 
gleam from the future life ever brightens thy earthly way if the sores 
and irritations of thy contact with the world are never soothed and 
softened by the healing consciousness of a divine love thou hast 
studied to little purpose, and the fountains of a true happiness are yet 
sealed up to thee. 

That benevolence which prompted Jesus to incessant exertion 
which supported him through unparalleled suffering which was alike 
the soul of his discourses his actions and his miracles which shone 
through his life and his death whose splendors were around his brow 
when he expired on the cross and when he sat down on the right 
hand of the Majesty on high is but a glorious revelation of the 
glorious truth that God is love, 

The only distinctions in society which should be recognized are 
those of the soul of strong principle of incorruptible integrity of 
usefulness of cultivated intellect of fidelity in seeking for truth. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. I45 

Do the voice of the wise and the arm of the brave and the blood 
of the patriot go for nothing in the wild conflict that is desolating 
the earth 

Can we imagine that God's highest gift of intelligence imagination 
and moral power were bestowed to provide only for animal wants 

Want and anxiety and habitual discontent and hate of fancied 
oppression can never raise a class and excite it to noble efforts. 

How often in surveying the great man's splendid mansion and 
wandering through his ancient woods and beautiful gardens have 
we met with some touching memorial of human affection 

The pure kind trustful heart intent on duty and only ambitious 
of usefulness bears in the beaming eye and open brow and gladsome 
voice unfailing evidence of inward peace and joy. 

That fortitude which has encountered no dangers that prudence 
which has surmounted no difficulties that integrity which has been 
attended by no temptations can at best be considered but as gold not 
yet brought to the test. 

Every one must of course think his own opinions right for if he 
thought them wrong they would no longer be his opinions but there 
is a wide difference between regarding ourselves as infallible and 
being firmly convinced of the truth of our creed. 

He sunk to repose where the red heaths are blended one dream of 
his childhood his fancy passed o'er but his battles are fought and his 
march it is ended the sound of the bagpipe shall wake him no more. 

How many things are there which a man can not with any face or 
comeliness say to himself A man can scarce allege his own merits 
with modesty much less extol them a man can not sometimes brook to 
supplicate or beg and a number of the like but all these things are 
graceful in a friend's mouth which are blushing in a man's own. 



LESSOR LIV. 

THE USE OF THE DASH. 

§ 61. Wherever a sentence is broken, unfinished, or 
finished in a way different from what the beginning would 
naturally lead to, a dash should be used. 

Examples. — But, my good lord — 61. 

Was there ever a bolder captain of a more valiant band ? Was 
there ever — 61 but I scorn to boast. 

10 



146 FIRST LESSONS IN 

Leonidas, Cato, Phocion, Tell, — 61 one peculiarity marks them 
all: they dared and suffered for their native land. 
Greece, Rome, Carthage — 61 where are they? 

§ 62. The dash is used in narratives of conversations 
to indicate a change in the speaker ; also a pause of some 
length in the speech of one person. 

Examples. — I pause for a reply — 62 None? then, etc. 

"What!" exclaimed I, from the depths of my starvation, 
"nothing else? Haven't you any eggs?" — 62" No." — 62"Any 
cutlets?"— 62 "No."— 62 "Any potatoes?"— 62 Ever the same re- 
ply, "No." 

" Grindstone, — 62 cheese, — 62 cheese, — 62 grindstone ! " muttered 
Bunker, now evidently puzzled and doubtful. 

§ 63. The dash is used before words repeated or added 
for the sake of explanation or emphasis, or as the result 
of a sudden thought of the speaker. 

Examples. — And bid her (you mark me!) on next "Wednes- 
day — 63 but stop! what day is this? 

He had no malice in his mind- — 63 
No ruffles on his shirt. 

Newton was a Christian; — 63 Newton ! whose mind burst forth 
from the fetters cast by nature on our finite conceptions. 

Yes, the poor boy, the friendless Sam, with whom our story 
began, had become the famous Doctor Samuel Johnson! — 63 John- 
son! universally acknowledged as the wisest man and the greatest 
writer in England. 

§ 64. The dash is used when a long series of co- 
ordinate terms, clauses, or phrases is all to be summed 
up into one common connection with the final clause 
of the sentence. 

Examples. — The infinity of worlds, and the narrow spot of earth 
which we call our country or our home ; the eternity of ages, and the 
few hours of life ; the almighty power of God, and human nothing- 
ness, — 64 it is impossible to think of these in succession, without a 
feeling like that which is produced by the sublimest eloquence. 

At school and at college, the great vision of Eome broods over 
the mind with a power which is never suspended or disputed : her 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 



147 



great men, her beautiful legends, her history, the height to which 
she rose, and the depth to which she fell, — 64 these make up one 
half of a student's ideal world. 

§ 65. The dash is commonly used where there is an 
ellipsis of such words as namely, that is, and others 
having a similar import. 

Examples. — The four greatest names in English poetry are 
almost the first we come to, — 65 Chaucer, Spencer, Shakespeare, and 
Milton. 

Nicholas Copernicus was instructed in that seminary where it 
is always happy when any one can be well taught, — 65 the family 
circle. 

Gray and Collins aimed at the dazzling imagery and magnifi- 
cence of lyric poetry, — 65 the direct antipodes of Pope. 

EXERCISES TO BE PUNCTUATED. 

" I forgot my " " Your portmanteau " hastily interrupted Henry. 
"The same. 77 

To reward men according to their worth alas the perfection of 
this we know amounts to the millennium. 

Thou dost not mean No no thou wouldst not have me make a 
trial of my skill upon my child ! 

At church in silks and satins new with hoop of monstrous size she 
never slumbered in her pew but when she shut her eyes. 

"Please your honor 7 ' quoth Trim "the Inquisition is the vilest 77 
' c Prithee spare thy description Trim I hate the very name of it 7 7 
said my father. 

Frankness suavity tenderness benevolence breathed through their 
exercise. And his family But he is gone that noble heart beats 
no more. 

The collision of mind with mind the tug and strain of intellectual 
wrestling the tension of every mental fiber as the student reaches forth 
to take hold of the topmost pinnacle of thought the shout of joy that 
swells up from gladsome voices as he stands upon the summit with 
error under his feet these make men. 

The modest flower nestling in the meadow-grass the happy tree as 
it laughs and riots in the wind the moody cloud knitting its brow in 
solemn thought the river that has been flowing all night long the 
sound of the thirsty earth as it drinks and relishes the rain these 



148 FIRST LESSONS IN 

things are as a full hymn when they flow from the melody of nature 
but an empty rhythm when scanned by the linger of art. 

Angry thoughts canker the mind and dispose it to the worst 
temper in the world that of fixed malice and revenge. 

There are two kinds of evils those which can not be cured and 
those which can. 

I see in this world two heaps one of happiness and the other of 
misery. 

Amongst us men these three things are a large part of our virtue 
to endure to forgive and ourselves to get pardon. 

The orations of Caesar were admired for two qualities which are 
seldom found together strength and elegance. 

In 1813 Moore entered upon his noble poetical and patriotic task 
writing lyrics for the ancient music of his native country. 

Milton's life was a true poem or it might be compared to an anthem 
on his own favorite organ high-toned solemn and majestic. 

Faith builds in the dungeon and the lazar-house its sublimest 
shrines and up through roofs of stone that shut up the eye of Heaven 
ascends the ladder where the angels glide to and fro Prayer. 

You speak like a boy like a boy who thinks the old gnarled oak 
can be twisted as easily as the young sapling. 

Never is virtue left without sympathy sympathy dearer and 
tenderer for the misfortune that has tried it and proved its fidelity. " 

There are indeed I acknowledge to the honor of the human kind 
there are persons in the world who feel that the possession of good 
dispositions is their best reward.. 

All great discoveries not purely accidental will be gifts to insight 
and the true man of science will be he who can best ascend into the 
thoughts of God he who burns before the throne in the clearest purest 
mildest light of reason. 

Man is led to the conception of a Power and an Intelligence 
superior to his own and adequate to the production and maintenance 
of all that he sees in nature a Power and Intelligence to which he 
may well apply the term "infinite." 

Can Parliament be so dead to its dignity and duty as to give its 
sanction to measures thus obtruded and forced upon them measures 
my lords which have reduced this late flourishing kingdom to scorn 
and contempt. 

Then I told what a tall upright graceful person their great- 
grandmother Field once was and how in her youth she was esteemed 
the best dancer here Alice's little right foot played an involuntary 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 149 

movement till upon my looking grave it desisted the best dancer I 
was saying in the country till a cruel disease called a cancer came and 
bowed her down with pain, but it could never bend her good spirits 
or make them stoop but they were still upright because she was so 
good and religious. 

He hears the raven's cry and shall he not hear and will he not 
avenge the wrongs that his nobler animals suffer wrongs that cry out 
against man from youth to age in the city and in the field by the way 
and by the fireside. 

Wherever on this earth an understanding is active to know and 
serve the truth wherever a heart beats with kind and pure and gen- 
erous affections wherever a home spreads its sheltering wing over 
husband and wife and parent and child there under every diversity of 
outward circumstance the true worth and dignity and peace of man's 
soul are- within reach of all. 

When at God ? s decree human greatness from all its state falls to 
the ground like a leaf when death usually doing its work in silence 
seems to cry out over the bier of the high and distinguished when some 
figure that has moved with imposing tread in our sight towers still 
more out of the dark valley when the drapery of mourning unrolls 
itself from private chambers to line the streets darken the windows 
and hang the heavens in black when the stroke of the bell adds a 
sabbath solemnity to the days of the week and the boom of guns 
better fired over the dead than at the living echoes all through our 
territory, while the wheels of business stop and labor leans its head 
and trade foregoes its gains, and communication save on one theme 
ceases we may well ask the meaning and cause. 



LESSON LV. 

QUOTATION MARKS. 

§66. A word, phrase, or passage, uttered or written 
by another, and introduced into one's own composition, 
is distinguished by marks of quotation. 

§ 67. Marks of quotation need not be used if the 
phraseology of the author is changed, so as to be incor- 
porated in the sentence as a part of it. 



150 FIRST LESSONS IN 

§ 68. But it is not wrong to use them, including such 
of the words as are not changed by the incorporation, 
if the writer wishes the reader to notice that the expres- 
sion is a borrowed or quoted one. 

§ 69. If one quotation is included within another, the 
interior one is marked by a single inverted comma at the 
beginning, and a single apostrophe at the end. If the 
interior quotation contains still another, the marks are 
doubled again. 

§ 70. When the quotation extends through several 
paragraphs of prose, or stanzas of poetry, the double 
inverted commas stand at the beginning of each para- 
graph or stanza, and the double apostrophes at the end 
of the last only. 

§ 71. If the quoted poetry is not broken into stanzas, 
a single inverted comma stands at the beginning of each 
line. 

§ 72. If the quotation is introduced by some such 
words as thus, following, as follows, these words, etc., it 
should be preceded by a colon. 

§ 73. If the quotation is preceded by such words as 
those mentioned in the foregoing rule, and is broken 
from the preceding part of the discourse so as to begin 
a new paragraph, it should also be preceded by a dash 
after the colon. 

Examples. — A minister of some experience remarks, 66 "I have 
heard more than one sufferer say, 69 * I am thankful; God is good 
to me ; 7 69 and, when I heard that, I said, 69 « It is good to he 
afflicted.' "69,66 

I was struck with this sentence : 72 — 73 66"Channing, the friend 
of humanity in every condition and under every garb, says, 69 « When 
I consider the greater simplicity of their lives, and their greater 
openness to the spirit of Christianity, I am not sure but that the 
69 "golden age 7 ' 69 of manners is to begin among those who are now 
despaired of for their want of refinement.' "69, 66 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 151 



EXERCISES. 

Let the pupil insert quotation-marks where demanded by the rules in the following 
sentences, and tell by what rules the other points are inserted, and likewise by what 
rules the capitals occur. 

If, says Sir James Mackintosh, you display the delights of lib- 
erality to a miser, he may always shut your mouth by answering, 
The spendthrift may prefer such pleasures : I love money more. 

Johnson's Lives of the English Poets may justly be considered as 
the noblest specimen of elegant and solid criticism which any age has 
produced. 

Terrific examples of license and anarchy in Greece and Rome are 
quoted to prove that man requires to be protected from himself; for- 
getting the profound wisdom wrapped up in the familiar inquiry, 
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes ? Who shall guard the keepers ? 

An eloquent preacher asks, Who would not far prefer our wintry 
storm, and the hoarse sighings of the east wind, as it sweeps around 
us, if they will brace the mind to nobler attainments, and the heart to 
better duties? [The author of this passage quotes the phrase, "the 
hoarse sighings of the east wind."] 

I ventured to congratulate him on his coming back to his home. 
Ah, sir ! he answered, but to a home how altered ! — my family broken 
up, my kindred gone, my mother vanished unseen ! — These feelings 
about home are deep, I murmured forth, as he came to an embarrassing 
pause. — Very deep, sir, he rejoined, and walked away. 

What is the soul ? was a question once put to Marivaux. — I know 
nothing of it, he answered, but that it is spiritual and immortal. — 
Well, said his friend, let us ask Fontenelle, and he will tell us what 
it is.— No, cried Marivaux : ask any body but Fontenelle ; for he has 
too much good sense to know any more about it than we do. 

D'Alembert congratulated a young man very coldly, who brought 
him the solution of a problem. I have done this to have a seat in the 
Academy, said the young man. — Sir, answered D'Alembert, with such 
motives you will never earn one. Science must be loved for its own 
sake, and not for the advantage to be derived. ISTo other principle 
will enable a man to make true progress. 

The following sarcastic rules for behavior are said by Goldsmith 
to have been drawn up by an indigent philosopher : — 

1. If you be a rich man, you may enter the room with three loud 
hems, march deliberately up to the chimney, and turn your back to 
the fire. 



152 FIRST LESSONS IN 

2. If you be a poor man, I would advise you to shrink into the 
room as fast as you can, and place yourself, as usual, upon a corner 
of a chair, in a remote corner. 

3. If you be young, and live with an old man, I would advise 
you not to like gravy. I was disinherited myself for liking gravy. 



LESSON LVI. 

THE STYLE OF LETTERS. 

§ 74. The style of all letters should be characterized 
by simplicity. All attempts at rhetorical display in a 
communication so personal and private as a letter, are in 
exceedingly bad taste. 

§ 75. All letters of business should be characterized 

by the utmost politeness, and by strict adherence to the 

matter in hand. This should always be set forth in the 

clearest manner consistent with brevity. Some persons 

very properly pursue the plan of stating, in their reply 

to a letter of business, the substance of the letter to which 

they are replying. Whenever there is the least danger 

of being misunderstood, this should certainly be done. 

The following are examples of the mode in which this 

should be done. 

Chattanooga, Sept. 10, 1870. 
Messrs. Harris & Bro's. 

Gentlemen, 

Yours of the 7th inst., proposing to send us 
10 hhds. Syrup on sale, is received. We have considered your 
offer, and agree, &c, &c. 



Memphis. Oct. 5th, 1870. 
George Sloan, Esq. 

Dear Sir, 

Yours of the 3d inst. is received, and its con- 
tents are noted. You inquire if I hold the title-deed to the lot of 
land, No. 152, in Gibson County of this State. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 153 

§ 76. As to letters of friendship, the very best rule* is 
for the writer to imagine that he is allowed the privilege 
of a short interview with his friend, and then to insert in 
his letters those matters which would naturally be men- 
tioned in such an interview. The style should be clear, 
simple, and conversational ; sprightly or humorous, per- 
haps, but never flippant or silly. Whatever freedom or 
familiarity be used, no error in spelling, grammar, or 
style, no slovenliness in penmanship, should be tolerated 
in a letter. Egotism should be avoided, and yet one must 
not forget that the principal interest that friends have in 
their correspondence consists in the fact that it is the 
only means by which they are to be informed each of 
the other's fortunes and feelings. Backbiting, the re- 
peating of evil rumors about mutual acquaintances, or 
the revealing of what has been mentioned in confidence, 
are all as wicked and as mean in letters as in conversa- 
tion. With these limitations, let the heart dictate the 
matter. Be yourself unto your friend. Pour out your 
soul unto him, and invite similar openness from him, and 
your letters will glow with interest and beauty. 



LESSON LVII. 

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW— No. II. 

What is discourse? What is continuous discourse? What is 
continuous discourse in script? 

What is the difference between a hyphen and a dash? What 
are the uses of the hyphen ? What are the uses of the dash ? (See 
Lesson LIY.) 

How do prose and poetry differ as to the use of capitals ? Repeat 
the nine rules for the use of capitals. 

What is didactic discourse ? What is derivation ? What is a 
primitive word ? What is a radical ? What is a prefix ? What is 
a suffix? What is inflection? Which are the seven inflectional 



154 FIRST LESSONS IN 

suffixes in English ? What is the use of each of them ? When is 
the suffix s changed into est What change is made when a suffix 
beginning with a vowel is added to a radical ending with silent e ? 
When is the final letter of a radical doubled on taking a suffix? 
How do radicals ending in y take suffixes ? What change takes place 
when the suffix ing is to be added to a radical ending in ie ? 

What is meant by the style of a person? What are the two 
elements of style? To what does each refer? Which are the five 
properties of good diction ? To what does propriety of diction refer ? 
When is a person's style said to be proper? Why are improprieties 
so often made in the use of prepositions? What are paronyms? 
Why are they liable to be improperly used ? 

When is the style of a writer said to be pure ? What is a bar- 
barism? Where is the English language spoken? What is a pro- 
vincialism ? When is it a barbarism to use a foreign word in English 
discourse? What is an obsolete word? Why are some obsolete 
words found in the Sacred Scriptures? What difference is there 
between the diction of poetry and prose in the use of obsolete words ? 
Who has the right to make a new word and use it ? When is a word 
said to be anglicized ? What are the chief sources from which the 
English language is now being enriched by the addition of new words ? 
Why have you not the right to coin a word ? When may you ven- 
ture to use a new word that others have coined, or an obsolete word 
that others have revived ? Is it allowable to make up a word of parts 
derived from different languages? 

Which are the four parts of a letter ? Where should the date be 
placed, and what should it contain ? State the rules concerning the 
form of the address. State the rules concerning the subscription. 

What is meant by chastity of diction? What is vulgarism? 
What are colloquialisms ? What is slang ? 

What is meant by precision of diction? What are redundancies? 
What is pleonasm ? What is tautology ? 

What is meant by euphony of diction ? What kind of words are 
those which do not sound well ? 

What is a simple sentence ? What is the rule for the pointing of 
a plain straight-forward simple sentence ? When is a comma required 
between the subject and the verb ? What are the rules for the pointing 
of appositives ? What of secondary or attributive objects ? What of 
an adjective or participle phrase following the noun? 

What are the rules for the punctuation of compound terms? 
What are the three exceptions to the rule requiring transpositions to 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 155 

be marked by commas ? "When should a preposition have a comma 
before it? What is a parenthesis, and how should it be marked? 
What is an interposed word or phrase, and how should it be marked ? 
How should independent and contextual words be marked ? When 
should the exclamation be used ? How are responsive words marked ? 
What are the rules for the pointing of enumerations ? 

What is a complex sentence? What is a restrictive clause? 
What is the general rule for the pointing of a complex sentence? 
What are the four exceptions to it? In what four cases are the 
exceptions overruled? 

What is a compound sentence ? By what may its members be 
connected? What are the rules for the punctuation of compound 
sentences ? What rule applies when a sentence is both complex and 
compound ? What is a partial compound sentence ? How is it to be 
punctuated ? What is the rule for the pointing of an ellipsis ? 

What are the rules for the use of the dash? What are the rules 
for the use of quotation-marks ? 

What kind of style should characterize letters in general ? By 
what should letters of business be characterized? What particular 
item should every letter of business contain ? What is the best mode 
of finding what to say in a letter of friendship ? What kind of style 
should letters of friendship have ? What ethical rules are given as 
to the matter of letters of friendship ? 



156 FIRST LESSONS IN 



BISECTIONS TO THE TEACHER 



A PLAN FOR GUIDING A CLASS IN LEARNING TO 
WRITE ORIGINAL ESSAYS. 

The great difficulty with young persons in the production of 
original essays, is the want of information. A subject is assigned 
them concerning which they know little or nothing, or about which 
they have no opinions. In such circumstances the temptation is 
almost irresistible to resort to dishonest methods of producing a 
composition. Even if time be allowed them to "read up" on a 
subject, to become " posted," as the phrase goes, yet the knowledge 
thus obtained is not, in any proper sense, their own, and but few 
young persons would take the trouble, or have the patience, to 
meditate alone upon it, so as to form opinions of their own about it. 
To this undertaking they must be helped by the teacher. The fol- 
lowing are the details of a plan that has long been tried by some 
teachers, and with such success as to warrant its recommendation 
to others. 

Let a subject be selected and assigned, and let a sufficient time be 
allowed for the pupils to gather some information concerning it. 

By a certain day, each pupil is required to present a number of 
questions, say five, six, or more, calling for leading facts, or for 
opinions based upon the facts in connection with the subject assigned. 

These questions are collated by the teacher, the duplicates and 
unimportant ones thrown out, and the rest arranged, numbered, and 
distributed among the members of the class, irrespective of their 
authorship. 



ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 157 

It is now the business of each one to qualify himself by special 
search, using all available sources, to give full, intelligent, and accu- 
rate answers to the questions he has received. 

At an appointed time the class is convened to hear these an- 
swers. They are called for in the order of the numbers given to 
the distributed questions. Each pupil, as the number of any of his 
assigned questions is called, rises, reads the question, and proceeds 
to give the answer orally, in a clear and connected manner. This 
part of the process is an invaluable exercise in the way of training 
young persons to converse, or if need be, to speak in public. 

After the answer has been made, the question is open for further 
inquiry, explanation, confirmation, or objection, from all the class; 
and the teacher should see to it that no question be passed over until 
all the class is informed about it, and have been led to make up some 
opinion or opinions on the point brought out by the question. 

The teacher should take care not to repress discussion by his 
own authoritative utterances ; but rather encourage individual free- 
dom of thought to the utmost. 

The discussion need not be held to the strict order of a debate. 
After the first two or three speeches, if they may be called so, are 
made on the point, let the class, if so disposed, resolve itself without 
form into two or more conversational groups, and talk over the point 
among themselves. 

But no one point should be allowed to occupy a large share of 
the time. It is best not to let the members of the class talk out all 
they might say on any topic. The discussion will have produced its 
desired effect, if it suggest to the pupils a great many things that they 
would like to say, if time were given them. 

At the close of the discussion, the precise subject of the compo- 
sition is assigned. It may be just the same that the pupils were 
required to write questions upon, or it may be something merely 
connected with the subject. For instance, suppose the topic on which 
questions have been prepared and answered is Martin Luther ; the 
teacher may assign that as the subject of an essay to each member 



158 ENGLISH PROSE COMPOSITION. 

of the class alike, or he may vary it somewhat for different indi- 
viduals. 

A. may be required to write Reflections on visiting the town of 
Eisleben, where Luther was born and died. 

B. may be required to write out a Parallel between the characters 
of Luther and Wesley. 

C. may be required to write an imaginary Discourse of Luther's, 
inveighing against the sale of indulgences. 

D. may be required to write an imaginary Extract from the funeral 
sermon of Justus Jonas on the death of Luther. 

E. may be required to write an imaginary Letter of Luther's to 
Melancthon, while confined in the Castle of Wartburg. 

F. may be required to describe an imaginary Visit to the household 
of Luther on a Christmas Eve. 

Of course, in assigning such special performances as these, the 
teacher will have respect to the age and ability of the pupils. 

When the essays are written, each should be subjected to careful 
revision and correction, and the corrected copies should Be read before 
the assembled class. 

It is hoped that this plan will commend itself to all teachers in 
circumstances to adopt it. 



A /r) 



APPENDIX II. 



ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



TAKEN FROM LYXD'S CLASS BOOK OF ETYMOLOGY. 



ABANDON — desert, forsake ; leave, give up, 
cast off, quit; renounce, resign, relin- 
quish, reject, surrender, abdicate, yield, 
cede, concede, forego. See G-ive up, 
Leave, Cast back. 

Abandoned — reprobate, profligate, cor- 
rupt, depraved, vitiated, vicious, wicked; 
lorn, forlorn, left, forsaken; deserted, 
helpless, destitute, lost, desperate, hope- 
less; outcast, cast off. See Wicked, 
Hopeless, Loose. 

Abase — depress, cast down, debase, dis- 
grace, lower, make low; humble, hu- 
miliate, reduce. See Lower, Disgrace, 
Humble. 

Abdior — hate, detest, abominate, loathe. 
See Disgust. 

Abide — stay, continue, remain; endure, 
last. See Stay, Lasting. 

Ability— capacity, capability, capableness, 
cleverness, competence, competency, 
adequacy, adequateness, sufficiency, ef- 
ficiency; skill, tact, address, dexterity; 
genius, talent, faculty, power. See 
Power. 

Able — capable, competent, adequate, suffi- 
cient, efficient, qualified, skillful, clever, 
expert, adroit, dexterous ; powerful, 
strong, vigorous. See Powerful, Active, 
Clever, Strong, Inadequate. 

Abode — habitation, dwelling, residence, 
domicil, house ; for a short time, visit, 
sojourn, sojourning. See House. 

Abounding — sufficient, copious, abundant, 
overflowing, ample, plentiful, plenteous, 
fertile ; prevailing, prevalent ; exuber- 



ant. See Fruitful, Enough, Generous, 
Excess, Large. 

Abridge — abbreviate, compress, contract, 
epitomize, condense; reduce, curtail, 
shorten. See Take. 

Abridgment — compendium, compend, afe* 
stract, synopsis, epitome, summary, 
abbreviation ; contraction, diminution, 
reduction. See Shorter. 

ABRUPT — sudden, unlooked for, unexpect- 
ed, unforeseen ; rough, rude, coarse ; 
uneven, rugged ; steep, craggy, precip 
itous; unconnected. See Bold, Sud- 
den. 

Abstain — refrain, forbear, withhold, de- 
sist, discontinue, hold off, cease, stop. 
See Keep, Leave. 

Abstaining — abstinent, abstemious, sober, 
temperate, moderate. See Sober. 

Abuse — scurrility, invective, vituperation, 
opprobrium, insult, insolence, reproach. 

Abuse — revile, reproach, vilify, vituperate, 
insult; scurrilize, inveigh against, de- 
claim, upbraid, chide, scandalize ; ill- 
use, deceive, impose on. See Chide, 
Gibe, Beguile, Misuse, Injure, Reproach, 
Deceive. 

Abusive — opprobrious, scurrilous, insult- 
ing, insolent, scandalous, reproachful, 
vituperative, offensive, injurious. See 
Hurtful. 

Accent — emphasis, stress. 

Accidental — fortuitous ; casual, contin- 
gent, incidental, adventitious, adsciti- 
tious, appendant, annexed, non-essen- 
tial. See Additional. 

(311) 



312 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



Accompanying — attending, going with, 
concomitant, connected, conjoined, con- 
current, collateral. See Connected. 

Accomplice — accessory, abettor, confrere, 
colleague, partner, associate, compan- 
ion ; ally, confederate, assistant. See 
Companion. 

Accomplish — effect, effectuate, achieve, 
do, execute, perform, complete, realize, 
fulfill. See Do, Perfect, Bring about, 
Compass. 

A ccomplishment — performance, execu- 
tion, achievement, effectuation, fulfill- 
ment, completion, realization; acquisi- 
tion, acquirement, attainment. See 
Performance, Completion, Work. 

Accomplishments — refinements, embel- 
lishments, elegancies ; endowments ; 
qualifications, attainments, acquire- 
ments. See Qualification. 

ACCORDANT — agreeing with, concordant, 
consonant, consistent, congruous, com- 
patible, conformable, agreeable, suita- 
ble. See Agreeable, Suitable, Answer- 
able to. 

ACCOUNT — description, relation, explana- 
tion, narration, narrative, history, story, 
recital, detail. See Chronicle, Memoir. 

Accountable — responsible, answerable, 
amenable, subject to, obnoxious, liable. 
See Answerable, Subject. 

ACCUSE — impeach, indict, charge ; ar- 
raign ; impute to, attribute to. See 
Lay, Count. 

Acid — See Sour. 

Acquaint — apprise, communicate, inform; 
disclose, reveal ; make familiar. See 
Make known, Tell. 

Acquaintance — friend, associate, com- 
panion; familiar, intimate. See Com- 
panion, Intimacy, Familiarity. 

Acquiescence — quiet assent, resignation, 
submission ; endurance, patience ; con- 
sent, assent, compliance ; accordance, 
agreement. See Agreement, Approba- 
tion, Agree to. 

Act between — interpose, intercede ; medi- 
ate, intermediate ; meddle, intermeddle, 
interfere. See Interrupt. 

ACTIVE — expert, dexterous, adroit, alert, 
vigorous, strenuous, agile, nimble, brisk, 
lively, animated, sprightly, quick, 
prompt, ready; industrious, diligent, 
assiduous, sedulous; practical, opera- 



tive. See Lively, Quick, Beady, Dili- 
gent, Able, Effect producing. 

ACTUAL — real, true, authentic, certain, 
genuine, positive ; incontestible, un- 
questionable, irrefragable, irrefutable, 
undoubted, indubitable. See Doubted, 
not to be, Certain, Genuine, Positive. 

Addition — something added ; additament; 
accession, increase, augment, augment- 
ation, accretion; appendix, appendage, 
supplement ; annexation ; addenda. See 
Increase. 

Additional — supplemental, supplementa- 
ry, adventitious, adscititious, supernu- 
merary, supervenient; added, super- 
added, appended, appendant, annexed, 
affixed, attached. See Accidental. 

Adduce — cite, quote. See Call. 

Adorn — See Beautify. 

Advancement — progression, progress ; 
preferment, promotion ; proficiency, 
improvement; forwardness. See Im- 
provement. 

Adversary — opponent, antagonist, op- 
poser, combatant, Satan, foe, enemy. 

ADVICE — counsel, information, instruc- 
tion; notice, intelligence; delibera- 
tion, consultation. See Caution, Knowl- 
edge. 

Affecting — moving, touching, pathetic, 
tender; exciting the passions or affec- 
tions; impressive; .pitiable. See Piti- 
able. 

Affection — attachment, fondness, kind- 
ness, devotion, devotedness; regard, 
love. See Kindness, Attachment. 

Affectionate — loving, kind, fond, warm, 
tender. See Warm, Kind, Loving, 
Hearty. 

Affront — insult, indignity, outrage ; 
provocation, irritation, exasperation ; 
ill-treatment, abuse. See Injury, Offend, 
Abuse. 

Affronting — insulting, provoking, irri- 
tating, exasperating, aggravating ; apt 
to affront; petulant, hasty, irritable. 
See Impertinent, Invidious. 

Afraid — timid, timorous, fearful; pusil- 
lanimous, dastardly, cowardly. See 
Fearful, Cowardice. 

Afraid, be — apprehend, fear, dread. See 
Fear. 

Agitation— -commotion, striving; disturb- 
ance, perturbation, excitement: emo- 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



313 



tion, trepidation, tremor; discussion. 
See Fear, Stir, Trouble, Trembling. 

A.GREE to — comply, accede, consent, as- 
sent, acquiesce, approve, accord, con- 
form. See Approve. 

Agree with — harmonize, be consistent, 
acquiesce, coincide, concur. 

Agreeable — pleasant, pleasing, gratify- 
ing, delightful, delectable ; acceptable, 
grateful, welcome ; accordant. See 
Accordant, Becoming, Suitable, Amia- 
ble, Grateful. 

Agreeable, not — inconsistent, incongru- 
ous, incompatible, unsuitable, discord- 
ant, incoherent. 

Agreement — accordance, concurrence, 
union, unison, harmony ; contract, cov- 
enant, convention, compact, bargain, 
stipulation, truce, peace, treaty. See 
Acquiescence, Concord, League, Bar- 
gain, Disagreement, Arrangement, 
Communion. 

Aid — See Assist. 

ATM — purpose, purport, intention, design, 
object, end, tendency, drift, scope; 
wish, aspiration, desire. See Direction, 
Desire, End, Object, Meaning. 

Aim — strive to hit a mark ; direct, point, 
level ; aspire to, pretend to ; endeavor, 
seek. See Seek, Wish for. 

All — See Whole. 

ALLAY — calm, quiet, tranquilize, soothe, 
compose, appease, soften, relieve, alle- 
viate, mitigate, abate, diminish, assuage. 
See Ease, Lessen, Soft, Still. 

Alliance — connection, affinity, league, 
confederacy, treaty, compact ; combina- 
tion. See League, Company. 

ALLOW — suffer, permit, tolerate ; concede, 
admit, grant. See Grant, Give, Suffer, 
Support, Own. 

Allure — See Tempt. 

Almighty — all-powerful, omnipotent. See 
All, Able, Powerful. 

Alone — See One, Single. 

Alone — solitary, desolate, desert, forlorn, 
retired, remote, sole, single, lonely, only. 
See Lonely, Desolate, Solitary. 

ALWAYS — incessantly, ever, perpetually, 
continually, constantly ; unchangeably, 
immutably, unalterably, irrevocably. 
See Changeable. 

AMENDS — compensation, reparation, resti- 



tution, requital, atonement, satisfaction. 
See Restoring, Satisfaction, Pay. 

Amends, make — compensate, recompense, 
remunerate, reward; repair, satisfy, 
requite, atone. See Expiate, Reward 
Satisfy. 

Amiable — lovely, sweet, gentle, kind, soft, 
obliging ; pleasing, charming, fascinat- 
ing, enchanting, accomplished, attract 
ive, prepossessing, engaging, agreeable, 
delightful, admirable. See Obliging 
Charm, Agreeable. 

AMUSING — diverting, entertaining, beguil- 
ing, interesting, sportive, recreating; 
droll, comical, comic, ludicrous, farci- 
cal, ridiculous. See Laughable, Odd. 
Sport, Beguile. 

Ancestor — progenitor, forefather, prede 
cessor. See Old. 

Ancient— See Old. 

Anger — wrath, resentment, dudgeon, ire, 
irritation, irritability, indignation, ex- 
asperation, excitement, displeasure, 
disapprobation; choler, rage, passion, 
spleen. See Displeasure. Rage, Malice. 

Anger — incense, irritate, enrage, exasper- 
ate, heat, kindle, enkindle, inflame, fire, 
incite, stimulate, provoke, excite. See 
Displease, Burn, Stir, Heighten. 

Angry — irritated, incensed, exasperated, 
vexed, excited ; irrascible, ireful, wroth, 
choleric, passionate, hot, hasty, impet- 
uous ; inflamed, red ; raging, furious, 
tumultuous, provoked. See Hot, Fret- 
ful, Cross, Passionate, Hasty, Tumult- 
uous. 

Animate — enliven, quicken, invigorate, 
inspire, exhilarate: instigate, incite, in- 
spirit, embolden, encourage, impel, 
stimulate, urge, move, actuate. See 
Cheer, Quicken, Encourage, Move, Stir. 

Annul laics or rules— do away with, 
make void, nullify, disannul, cancel, 
abrogate, abolish, repeal, revoke, recall. 
See Call back. Overrule. 

Answerable — accountable, responsible, 
amenable, liable. See Accountable, 
Subject. 

Answerable for, be — guarantee, warrant, 
secure, be responsible or accountable, 
be surety or security for, pledge, vouch 
for. See Pledge, Security. 

Anticipate — precede, preveiit, forestall. 



27 



314 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



prepossess, foretaste, prejudge, forerun. 
See Prevent, Go. 
Aphorism — maxim, axiom, apophthegm, 
saying, adage, proverb; saw, by-word. 
See Say, Speech. 
Appeal — refer, submit ; call on, invoke. 

See Refer, Call. 
Appear, make — manifest, demonstrate, 
evince ; reveal, display, discover ; seem, 
look. See Discover, Look. 
Appearance— phenomenon, scene, sem- 
blance, show, figure, form, seeming, 
likeness, resemblance, air, look, manner, 
aspect; mien, deportment, gait; veri- 
similitude, probability, likelihood ; 
plausibility, speciousness. See Form, 
Aspect, Attitude, Likeness, Show, 
Ghost. 
Appeased, not to be — implacable, inexora- 
ble, unappeasable, relentless, unrelent- 
ing. See Unrelenting, Deadly. 
Apply— lay on ; use, employ, adhibit, put, 
refer ; dedicate, devote, assign, allot, 
apportion ; suit, agree ; make request, 
solicit, have recourse, betake. See 
Refer, Dedicate, Assign, Ask. 
Appoint — ordain, order, depute, prescribe, 
fix, devote, allot, constitute, institute, 
provide, apportion, assign, parcel. See 
Ordain, Assign, Fix. 
Approach — approximate, draw nigh, come 

near, draw near. See Draw, Near. 
Approve — See Praise. 
Approbation — approval, consent, assent, 
acquiescence, concurrence. See Praise, 
Acquiescence, Leave. 
Arbiter — See Judge. 

ARBITRARY — depending on will or discre- 
tion, despotic, tyrannical, imperious, 
peremptory, positive ; absolute, unlim- 
ited, unrestrained, unrestricted, op- 
tional, discretionary. See Despotic, 
Positive. 
Argue— See Think. 

Argue — dispute, reason, debate, contend, 
discuss, altercate, controvert, question; 
prove, evince ; expostulate, remonstrate. 
See Reason. 
Argument — dispute, reasoning, debate, 
contention, discussion, altercation, dis- 
putation, controversy, contest, reason, 
proof, allegation, evidence; remon- 
strance, expostulation. See Proof, Rea- 
son, Dissertation. 



Arm — See Covering. 

Arrangement — symmetry, proportion, 
adjustment, adaptation ; harmony, 
agreement, accordance. See Order, 
Disposition, Agreement. 

Art, without — artless, guileless, ingenu- 
ous, candid, open, frank; unaffected, 
natural. See Open, Fair. 

Art, made by — artificial, factitious; 
feigned, fictitious. See Forged. 

Ascend — See Mount. 

Ashamed — See Modest. 

Ashamed, make — abash, shame, con- 
found, confuse, disgrace. See Disgrace, 
Shame. 

Ask — request, solicit, entreat, beg, peti- 
tion, require, claim, crave, demand. 
See Invite, Beg, Apply. 

Ask questions — question, interrogate, 
inquire. 

ASPECT — mien, air, physiognomy, appear- 
ance. See Appearance, Look. 

Asperse — accuse falsely, slander, defame, 
calumniate, detract, vilify, scandalize. 
See Slander, Disgrace. 

Assembly — See Company, Council. 

Assert — vindicate, justify, maintain, 
aver, affirm positively, defend. See 
Declare, Clear. 

Assign — allot, appoint, grant, designate, 
fix, specify ; make over, transfer, alien- 
ate ; allege, show, bring forward, ad- 
vance, adduce, state ; devote, apportion, 
appropriate, set apart. See Appoint, 
Ordain, Set apart. 

Assist — aid, succor, relieve, help; con- 
duce, contribute, minister, administer. 
See Help, Minister, Support, Oblige. 

Assume, falsely — arrogate ; usurp ; affect, 
pretend. 

Atone — See Expiate. 

Attachment — adherence, adhesion ; fond- 
ness, affection, love, regard, esteem, 
inclination, addiction; fidelity, faith. 
See Affection, Stick. 

Attack — fall upon, assail, assault, im- 
pugn, oppose. See Incursion, Onset. 

Attempt — effort, endeavor, trial, experi- 
ment, essay; enterprise, undertaking. 
See Essay, Try, Dare. 

Attention — stretching to, application, 
study, devotion, assiduity, diligence; 
civility, courtesy. See Diligence, Civil- 
ity, Politeness. 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



315 



Attitude — position, figure, posture; ac- 
tion, gesture, gesticulation. See Ap- 
pearance, Form. 

Audacity — boldness, hardihood, impu- 
< dence, insolence, effrontery. See Impu- 
dence, Bold. 

Author— See Writer. 

Authorize — give authority, empower ; 
authenticate ; instruct, direct, give a 
right. See Invest, Instruct. 

Avarice — love of money, avariciousness, 
covetousness, cupidity. See Desire. 

AVERSE — backward, unwilling, loth, re- 
luctant. See TJnwilling. 

Avoid — See Shun. 

Awaken — waken, rouse, arouse ; incite, 
excite, stir up, provoke, stimulate. See 
Stir, Move. 

AWARE — conscious, apprised ; watchful, 
vigilant, guarded, cautious, attentive, 
wary. See Wary, Watchful. 

Awkward — clumsy, unnatural, uncouth, 
clownish, unpolished, untoward, un- 
handy, inconvenient, bungling, unready; 
inelegant, unpolite, ungraceful. See 
Blunt, Barbarous, Polite, Countryman. 

Ax — See Weapon. 

Backward — See Averse. 

Backward, go — retrograde, retrocede, re- 
treat, retire, recede. See Go. 

Bad — See Malicious, Wicked. 

BAFFLE — balk, frustrate, thwart, foil, dis- 
appoint. See Put doivn, Defeat. 

Band— See Tie. 

Band — shackle, fetter, manacle, collar, 
chain, bond, tie, bandage; company, 
society, association, coalition, league, 
confederacy ; gang ; crew. See Com- 
pany, League, Tie. 

Bane — pest, plague; poison, ruin. See 
Hurt. 

Banish— See Exile. 

Banishment — exile, transportation, de- 
portation, expatriation, ostracism; pro- 
scription, outlawry, expulsion. See 
Exile. 

Barbarous; — uncivilized, rude, savage, 
vandalic, unlettered, illiterate, untu- 
tored, ignorant, barbarian ; cruel, fero- 
cious, inhuman, inhospitable. See 
Cruel, Bloody, Ignorant, Awkward. 

BARE — uncovered, naked, rude, detected ; 
destitute, poor, indigent, empty, unfur- 



nished, deficient, scant, scanty; plain, 
simple, unadorned. See Naked, Poor. 

Bargain — See Agreement, League, Con- 
dition. 

Bargain — negotiate, treat with ; agree, 
stipulate, contract, covenant, capitulate. 
See Agree, League. 

Barren — sterile, effete, unfruitful, unpro- 
ductive, arid. See Idle, Poor. 

Bastard — illegitimate, natural; spurious, 
not genuine, false, supposititious, adul- 
terate. See Spurious, Genuine, not. 

Battle — fight, conflict, combat, duel, 
contest, contention, encounter, struggle, 
engagement, action, rencounter. See , 
Fight, Argument, War. 

Beam — ray, gleam, glitter. See Shine. 

Bear, bring forth — See Breed. 

BEAR — suffer, support, endure, tolerate, 
sustain, undergo, be patient ; carry, 
convey, transport ; bring forth, produce, 
beget. See Suffer, Passive, Support, 
Beget, Produce. 

Beastly — brutal, brutish, bestial ; sensual, 
irrational ; coarse, filthy. See Brutal. 

Beat — See Bruise. 

Beat — strike, hit, thrash; break, ham- 
mer, bruise, pulverize ; defeat, conquer, 
vanquish, subdue, overcome, overthrow, 
overpower, smite, afflict. See Palpi- 
tate, Bruise, Overcome, Defeat. 

Beautiful — beauteous, pretty, handsome, 
elegant, fair, graceful, fine ; decorated, 
ornamented, embellished, adorned, or- 
nate, decked ; lovely, charming, attract- 
ive. See Fair, Charming, Amiable, 
Nice. 

Beautify — adorn, decorate, embellish, 
deck, bedeck, enamel, array, attire, 
dress, grace, ornament, embroider; gild, 
polish, refine, smooth, furbish, burnish. 
See Dress, Invest. 

Becoming — decent, befitting, suitable, fit, 
meet; agreeable, graceful, comely. See 
Fit, Meet, Suitable, Polite. 

Befitting — See Becoming. 

Beg — supplicate, beseech, implore, en- 
treat, crave, pray, petition. See Ask, 
Wish /or, Entreaty. 

Beget — See Breed, Cause. 

Begest — commence, take rise, originate; 
enter on, start, resume. See Found, 
Origin, Preface, Introduce. 

Beguile — delude, deceive, impose on ; 



316 



THE ART OF PKOSE COMPOSITION. 



elude ; pass pleasingly, divert, amuse, 
entertain. See Deceive, Cheat, Amus- 
ing. 

BEHAVIOR — conduct, demeanor, deport- 
ment, carriage, port, maimers, address. 
See Manners, Aspect, Appearance. 

Behead — decapitate, decollate, guillotine. 
See Kill, Head. 

Behold — See Look. 

Belief — faith, credence, credit, trust, 
confidence ; creed. See Confidence, 
Hope, Faithfulness, Unbelief. 

Bemoan — See Mourn. 

Bend — See Incline, Crooked. 

Benefit — profit, service, use, avail ; good, 
advantage, blessing, favor conferred. 
See Privilege, Use, Good, Interest, 
G-ain. 

BENT — flexure, flexion, curvity; bias, in- 
clination, disposition, tendency, drift, 
scope, turn, direction, propensity ; pre- 
possession, influence, sway. See Dis- 
position, Direction, Humor, Course, 
Crooked. 

Bequeath— See Will. 

Betoken — signify, portend, augur, pre- 
sage, forebode, predict, foreshow, de- 
note. See Denote, Bear, Foretell, Omen. 

Better — meliorate, ameliorate, amend, 
emend, improve; rectify, correct, re- 
form; advance, support. See Correct, 
Improvement. 

Bewail— See Grieve. 

Beware — See Aware, Wary. 

Bid — call, invite, ask, summon ; com- 

, mand, order, direct; offer, propose; 
denounce, threaten. See Call, Offer, 
Invite, Ask. 

Big — great, large, bulky, huge; protuber- 
ant, pregnant; full, fraught; swelled, 
tumid, inflated; haughty, proud. See 
Great, Large, Greatness, Full, Swell, 
Bombastic. 

Bigness of body — corpuleiice, corpulency, 
lustiness, fleshiness, grossness ; fatness, 
obesity, coarseness; bulk, size. See 
Size, Greatness, Fatness. 

Bile — See Anger. 

Bind— See Tie. 

Birth— See Beget. 

Bitter — See Sour. 

Black— See Dark. 

Blame— See Censure, Reproach. 

Blame — censure, upbraid, reproach, con- 



demn, reprehend, chide, reprove, dis- 
approve. See Reproach, Chide, Fault, 
Culpable. 

Blameless — inculpable, unblamable, irre- 
proachable, irreprehensible, irreprov- 
able, innocent, guiltless ; unblemished, 
spotless, faultless, immaculate, unspot- 
ted. See Stain, Blemish, Culpable. 

Blaze — glare, flare, flame; irradiate, 
illume, illumine, illuminate, emblaze, 
blazon, publish. See Gleam, Shine, 
Publish. 

Blemish — stain, spot, flaw, tint, speck, 
scar; imperfection, fault, defect; stig- 
ma, reproach, disgrace, taint, deform 
ity, turpitude. See Stain, Fault, Blame, 
Disgrace, Reproach. 

Bless — See Happiness. 

Blockhead — stupid fellow, dolt, thick 
skull, clodpoll, clodpate, clodhopper, 
numskull, dunce, dullard, bullhead, 
lubbard, lubber, drone, sluggard, idler, 
booby, losel, scoundrel. See Country 
man, Villain. 

BLOODY — sanguinary; murderous, cruel, 
savage, barbarous. See Cruel, Barbar 
ous, Skill. 

BLOT — See Stain, Blemish, Expunge. 

Blunt— See Dull. 

Blunt — obtuse, dull, not sharp, point- 
less, edgeless; plain, unceremonious, 
uncivil, rude, unpolished, unpolite, 
rough, inelegant, indelicate, abrupt, 
coarse. See Awkward, Dull, Polite. 

BOASTER — vaunter, braggadocio, braggart, 
bragger, bravo, puffer, rodomont, rodo- 
montadist, rodomontador, blusterer, 
bully, swaggerer. See Vaunting. 

Boil — seethe, bubble, effervesce. See Hot. 

BOLD — daring, courageous, brave, intrep 
id, fearless, undaunted, dauntless ; con 
fident, not timorous; audacious, inso 
lent, contumacious, impudent, rude, 
forward, barefaced, shameless; licen 
tious; steep, abrupt. See Determined, 
Foolhardy, Brave, Impertinent, Cour- 
age. 

Bombastic — bombast, inflated, pompous, 
swelled, tumid, turgid, high-sounding, 
hyperbolical, grandiloquent, magnil- 
oquent. See Big, Swell. 

Bondage — See Liberty, being deprived of- 

Border— See Brink, Edge. 

Born— See Beget. 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



317 



Bound — limit, restrict, qualify, restrain, 
confine, circumscribe; end, terminate. 
See End, Qualify, Confine, Limited. 
Bound back — rebound, recoil; resound, 
reverberate, echo. See Cast back, 
Sound. 

Bounds — limits, borders, boundaries, 
frontiers, confines, marches; extent, 
restrictions. See Limited, End, Edge. 

BOUNTY — liberality, munificence, benefi- 
cence, generosity, benevolence, benig- 
nity, kindness; abundance, profusion. 
See Good, Kindness, Generous. 

Bracelet — See Covering. 

BRAVE — courageous, bold, daring, intrep- 
id, undaunted, fearless, gallant, valor- 
ous, valiant, heroic, magnanimous. See 
Bold, Courage. 

Break — See Overcome, Fail, Violation, 
Incursion. 

Breathf See Spirit. 

Breed — generate, hatch, engender, pro- 
duce, occasion, cause, originate ; edu- 
cate, instruct ; bring up, nurse, foster. 
See Cause, Fruitful, Race, Foster. 

Brief— short, concise, laconic, succinct, 
summary, compendious. See Short. 

Bright — shining, lucid, splendid, brill- 
iant, luminous, sparkling, animated; 
glossy, glistering ; limpid, transpicuous, 
translucent, clear, transparent ; evident, 
manifest; resplendent, lustrous, illus- 
trious, glorious, irradiated, illuminated ; 
burnished, furbished, polished. See 
Shine, Strong, Clear, Transparent. 

Bring about — effect, bring to pass, accom- 
plish, perform, effectuate, achieve, ful- 
fill, attain, do, cause to be, produce. See 
Accomplish, Do, Performance, Effect. 

Brink — margin, edge, verge, border, 
bank; brim, rim; coast, shore, beach, 
side. See Edge. 

Briskness — liveliness, vivacity, quickness, 
sprightliness, gayety, effervescence ; 
alacrity, cheerfulness, alertness, assidu- 
ity ; readiness, promptitude, activity, 
agility. See Quickness, Lively, Cheer- 
fulness. 

Broad — See Large. 

Broadness — breadth, latitude, extent, 
vvideness, width. See Wide. 

Broken, easily — brittle, fragile, frail, 
weak, slight, frangible. See Weak. 

BRCTHEir— £<2£ Lewd. 



Bruise — crush or mangle with blows > 
contuse; pound, break, mangle, crush, 
beat, pulverize. See Beat. 

Brutal — beastial, brutish, savage, cruel, 
inhuman, ferocious, unfeeling, barbar- 
ous, merciless, sensual, irrational, sense- 
less. See Beastly, Cruel. 

Brute — See Brutal. 

Bubble — See Boil. 

Buckler — See Covering. 

Bud — put forth, sprout, germinate, shoot. 

Build — See Found, House, Instruct. 

Building — structure, edifice, fabric, erec- 
tion, construction, pile, shed, house. 
See House, Fabric. 

Burden — See Weight. 

Burden — load, weight, burden; freight, 
cargo. See Freight. 

Burn — See Hot, Anger. 

Bury — inter, entomb, deposit a corpse, 
inhume, inhumate ; hide, conceal, over- 
whelm, cover. See Unbury, Hide. 

Business — vocation, avocation, calling, 
profession, trade, art, employment, oc 
cupation, engagement, office, duty ; mat- 
ter, concern, affair, point, subject. See 
Office, Trade. 

Butcher — See Kill, Destruction. 

Buy — Sve Trade, Redeem. 

Cajole— flatter, adulate, compliment, 
praise, fawn, wheedle, coax, soothe, de- 
lude, humor, induce, persuade. See 
Fawn, Flatter, Deceive. 

Call back what one has said or writ- 
ten — retract, recall, disavow, recant, 
revoke, reverse ; abjure, forswear ; re- 
ject, renounce, deny ; countermand, 
contradict; rescind, repeal, abrogate, 
abolish, annul, disannul, nullify. See 
Recall, Disown, Annul. 

Call out — evoke ; vociferate, utter, cry, 
exclaim, ejaculate. See "Utter, Cry. 

Call together — convoke, convene; sum- 
mon, cite, collect, gather, assemble, 
muster, congregate, amass, accumulate. 
See Gather. 

Calling together— convocation, congre- 
gation, assembly, gathering ; parlia- 
ment, congress, diet, convention, con- 
venticle, session, presbytery, synod, san- 
hedrim, senate, council chamber, con- 
ference, meeting, company. See Coun- 
cil, Interview, Collection. 



318 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



Calm — serene, unruffled, placid, sedate, 
gentle, bland, mild, quiet, cool, col- 
lected, peaceful, halcyon, composed, 
still, unmoved, undisturbed, tranquil. 
See Gentle, Even, Silence. 

Care — concern, anxiety, solicitude; heed, 
caution, circumspection, wariness, at- 
tention, regard ; charge, oversight, 
management, direction, economy ; trou- 
ble, perplexity. See Trouble, Caution, 
Look, Oversight, Thought. 

Careful — anxious, solicitous, cautious, 
wary, mindful, heedful, attentive, in- 
tent, observant, circumspect, provident, 
prudent, watchful, vigilant, diligent, 
assiduous, sedulous, elaborate. See 
Thoughtful, Wary. 

Careless — heedless, thoughtless, negli- 
gent, unthinking, inattentive, regard- 
less, unmindful, neglectful, unsolicitous, 
improvident, remiss, listless, reckless, 
incautious, inconsiderate, inadvertent, 
unconcerned ; hasty, slight, cursory, 
desultory, superficial, loose, immethodi- 
cal ; roving, wavering. See Indifferent, 
Lazy, Hasty, Loose. 

Carriage — chariot, coach, curricle, vehi- 
cle, car, omnibus, phaeton, drosky, so- 
ciable, gig, cart, wagon. 

Cash — See Money. 

CAST — throw, fling, hurl, drive, thrust, 
push, sling, jerk. See Send, Throw. 

Cast down — dejected, depressed, grieved, 
discouraged, disheartened, humiliated. 
See Sad, Dull. 

Cast back or off — reject, retort, echo, 
reverberate, rebound, report, reflect, 
rebuff ; desert ; forsake, abandon, re- 
nounce. See Bound back, Abandon. 

Catalogue — list, register, muster, roll, 
record ; scroll, schedule. See Chronicle, 
Enlist, Nomenclature. 

Catching — seizure, caption, capture; ap- 
prehension, arrest. See Take, Seize. 

Catholic— See Whole, All. 

Cause — produce, effect, bring into exist- 
ence, create, occasion, engender, gener- 
ate, breed, induce ; motive, incitement, 
inducement, reason. See Do, Breed, 
Effect, Induce, Occasion, Origin. 

Caution — care, concern, regard, careful- 
ness, circumspection, prudence, solici- 
tude, wariness, watchfulness, vigilance ; 



notice, advice, warning, admonition 
See Care, Warning. 

CAVE — See Opening. 

CAVTL — carp, censure, catch at, quarrel, 
object, evade ; contest, dispute. Set. 
Censure, Object, Quarrel, Shift. 

Cavil— See Jest, Trick. 

Ceasing — cessation, truce, leaving off, dis- 
continuance, vacation, intermission, 
pause. See Rest, Agreement. 

Censure — See Blame, Cavil. 

Certain — sure, infallible, secure, doubt- 
less. See Actual, Doubted, not to be. 

Chain — See Band, Covering, Linking 
together. 

Chance — luck, casualty, fortuity, fortune, 
accident, incident, occurrence, event, 
contingency, adventure, hazard. See 
Fortune, Luck, Event, Occasion, Dan- 
ger. 

Change — alter, vary ; exchange, substi 
tute, commute ; reciprocate, inter- 
change, barter, truck,. traffic. See In 
terchange, Trade, Wave. 

Changeable — variable, mutable, fickle, 
inconstant, versatile, unsteady, irreso- 
lute, wavering, uncertain, veering. Set 
Undetermined, Always, Lightness. 

Character — mark, figure ; reputation, 
repute, estimation ; description, ac- 
count, representation ; person ; sort, 
class, species, kind. See Mark, Fame, 
Sort. 

ChargF; — See Office. 

Charity — love, affection ; alms ; benevo- 
lence, beneficence ; kindness, goodness, 
benignity, graciousness, tenderness. 
See Kindness, Mercy, Favor. 

Charm— See Amiable. 

Chaste — See Modest. 

Chasteness — chastity, continence; mod- 
esty, purity, virtue. See Honesty. 

Chastise— See Punish. 

Cheat — deception, finesse, fraud, deln- 
sion, imposture, imposition, trick, arti- 
fice, deceit, guile, cunning, craft, 
sleight, stratagem. See Hypocrisy. 
Trick, Cunning. 

CHECK — restrain, repress, curb, control, 
inhibit, stop, hinder. See Chide, Tut 
doivn, Keep, Hinder, Damp, Forbid. 

Cheer — gladden, exhilarate, animate, 
enliven, vivify, revive, inspirit, quicken, 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



319 



comfort, encourage, invigorate : incite, 
excite, stimulate, rouse. See Gladden, 
Animate, Comfort, Encourage, Quicken. 

Cheerfulness — gayety, liveliness, vivac- 
ity, merriment, mirth, sprightliness, 
blithesomeness, alacrity, jollity, jocun- 
dity. See Mirth, Pleasure, Briskness. 

Chide — scold at, reprove, reprimand, 
rebuke, reprehend, upbraid, reproach. 
See Blame, Abuse, Check, Disgrace, 
Censure, Gibe. 

Children— offspring, progeny, issue, pos- 
terity, descendants. See Offspring, 
Issue. 

CHOICE — election, selection, option, pref- 
erence; of two tilings, alternative. 
See Will, Means. 

Choke— See Kill. 

CnoosE— See Wish. 

Chronicles — annals, archives, records. 
See Chronicle. 

Chronicle — history, register, record, 
memoir, narrative, travels. See Ac- 
count, Memoir, Catalogue, Story. 

Cinder — See Ashes. 

Civility — civil behavior, good-breeding, 
politeness, urbanity, courtesy, cour- 
teousness, complaisance, affability. See 
Politeness, Attentiou. 

Civilization — refinement, culture, cultiva- 
tion, reclamation. See Education, Im- 
provement. 

Class — rank, order, degree, grade, stand- 
ing. See Kind, Order, Sort. 

CLEAR — transparent, translucent, lucid, 
translucid, diaphanous, pellucid, limpid, 
pure, unmixed; open; serene, un- 
clouded, luminous, unobscured; sharp, 
perspicacious; innocent, unspotted, ir- 
reproachable ; unprepossessed, unpre- 
occupied, impartial; unentangled, un- 
perplexed, unembarrassed, free; liber- 
ated, freed, acquitted. See Transpa- 
rent, Bright, Open, Free. 

Clear — plain, apparent, evident, un- 
doubted, indubitable, indisputable, un- 
deniable, manifest, visible, unobscure, 
obvious, open, conspicuous, distinct, 
perspicuous, express, explicit. See Ex- 
planatory, Discernable. 

Clear — purify, clarify, cleanse, purge ; 
liberate, extricate, disembarrass, disen- 
tangle, disengage, evolve ; elucidate, 
illume illumine, illuminate, illustrate; 



exculpate, exonerate, absolve, acquit, 
pardon, discharge, relieve; justify, vin- 
dicate. See Free, Assert, Shine, Ex- 
plain, Discharge, Forgive, 

Clergyman — ecclesiastic, minister, pas- 
tor, presbyter, pope, cardinal, arch- 
bishop, bishop, archdean. dean, rector, 
vicar, curate. See Ecclesiastic, Min- 
ister. 

Clever — expert, dexterous, adroit, ready, 
skillful, experienced ; intelligent. See 
Able, Ready, Intellectual. 

Climb — See G-o. 

Cloak — mask, veil, blind, cover, disguise, 
pretext, pretense, excuse. See Cover, 
Gloss, Excuse, Pretense. 

CLOSE — See Thick, Surround, Narrow. 

Clothe— See Invest. 

CLOTHES — garments, apparel, dress, cloth- 
ing, attire, array, vestments, vesture, 
raiment, robes, garb, habits, habili- 
ments, coverings. See Dress, Covering, 
Beautify. 

Coarse — See Thick. 

Coat — See Covering. 

Coin — See Money. 

Cold — See Insensibility. 

Collection — gathering, muster, assem- 
blage, assembly, group, crowd, congre- 
gation ; contribution. See Crowd, Com- 
pany, Calling together. 

COLOR — hue, tint, tinge, dye ; false show, 
pretense, pretext, guise, semblance. 
See Paint, Stain, Pretense, Cloak, Show. 

Combine — unite or join two or more 
things, link closely, join, unite, coalesce, 
associate, league, confederate, band. 
See Plot, League. 

Come — See Go. 

Comfort — strengthen, invigorate, console, 
cheer, solace, animate, gladden, revive, 
encourage, support. See Animate, 
Cheer, Encourage. 

Command — mandate, order, injunction, 
precept, charge, behest; edict; bull. 
See Order, Precept, Decree. 

Commanding — magisterial, imperative, 
imperious, authoritative, dictatorial, 
haughty ; arrogant, assuming ; over- 
bearing, domineering. See Proud. 

Comment — commentary, annotation, note, 
explanation, exposition, elucidation, 
notice, remark. See Remark, Expla- 
nation, 



320 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



Common — ordinary, vulgar, general, pub- 
lic, universal, frequent, usual ; not 
noble, not respected, not distinguished, 
low, mean ; prostitute, lewd. See Pub- 
lic, Universal, Mean, Gross, Lewd. 

Communion — fellowship, intercourse, con- 
verse, association, society, interchange ; 
agreement, concord, alliance. See In- 
terchange, Agreement, Concord, Speech. 

Companion — associate, compeer, equal, 
comrade, consort, partner, fellow, mate, 
confederate, ally, accomplice ; coadju- 
tor, colleague. See Acquaintance, Fol- 
lower, Accomplice. 

Company — collection, association, corpor- 
ation, society, partnership, community; 
alliance, confederacy, combination, 
union, league, coalition ; congregation, 
assembly, assemblage, crowd, group, 
crew, gang, troop. See Collection, 
Party, Council, Band, Crowd. 

Comparison — simile, similitude, similari- 
ty, likeness ; proportion. See Likeness. 

COMPASS — surround, environ, encompass, 
encircle, inclose, invest, besiege, be- 
leaguer ; obtain, attain to, procure, ac- 
complish ; purpose, intend, imagine, 
plot, contrive. See Invest, Surround, 
Contrive, Accomplish, Embrace. 

Compassion— See Feeling. 

Compendium — See Abridgment. 

Complain — See Grieve, Mourn. 

Complaining, always — querulous, queri- 
monious, discontented, dissatisfied, 
peevish, fretful, ill-humored, testy, 
petulant, irritable, captious. See Cross, 
Fretful, Angry. 

Completion — consummation, perfection, 
achievement, accomplishment, fulfill- 
ment, attainment. See Accomplish- 
ment, Performance. 

COMPRESS — condense, press, squeeze, 
crowd. See Abridge, Squeeze. 

Conceal — See Hide. 

Conceit — conception, idea, thought, im- 
age ; notion, imagination, opinion, 
fancy, freak, whim, maggot. See Whim, 
Pride, Thought, Vain, Opinion. 

Concord — harmony, agreement, peace, 
union, unity; harmony, melody. See 
Agreement, Peace. 

Condition— term, stipulation, article, 
proviso, provision. See Situation. State, 
Bargain 



Confidence — trust, reliance, hope, assur- 
ance, dependence. See Belief, Hope, 
Trust. 

Confine — bound, limit, circumscribe, 
sbut up, inclose, imprison, stint, re- 
strain, restrict. See Bound, Liberty, 
deprived of. 

Confused — disordered, deranged, indis- 
tinct, indiscriminate; involved, intri- 
cate. See Intricacy, Entangle, Order, 
put out of, Promiscuous, Crowd. 

Confusion — See Medley. 

CONNECTED — joined, conjoined, linked, 
united ; related, relative, relevant ; con- 
tiguous, adjoining; consecutive, conse- 
quential ; allied, confederate. See 
Accompanying. 

Conquer — See Overcome. 

Constituent — component, essential, ele- 
mental, intrinsic. See Necessary, In- 
trinsic, Formal, Important. 

Consult — advise with, seek counsel; de- 
liberate, consider, submit to, refer to. 
See Refer. 

Contain — hold, comprehend, comprise, 
embrace, include, inclose. See Hold, 
Embrace. 

Contemptible — deserving contempt, de- 
spicable, mean, vile, base, paltry, piti- 
ful. See Mean, Disdain. 

Continue in a course — persevere, pursue, 
prosecute, persist. 

Contrary — opposite, reverse, adverse, 
contradictory, inconsistent, repugnant, 
inimical. See Against, Opposite. 

CONTRrVE — devise, plan, scheme, invent; 
machinate, plot, colleague, concert, 
manage. See Design, Discover, Invent, 
Make. 

Contumely — contemptuousness, inso- 
lence, contempt, contemptuous lan- 
guage; rudeness, obloquy, reproach. 
See Disdain, Disgrace, Slander. 

Convtvtal — festal, festival, festive, social, 
sociable, jovial. See Merry. 

COOL — refrigerate, refresh. See Refresh, 
Cold. 

Copy— See Imitate. 

Correct — set right ; proper, right, up- 
right, honest, just, accurate, exact, 
faultless, nice, precise, punctual, punc- 
tilious, strict, scrupulous. See Right, 
Particular, Honesty, Nice. 

Correspondent — answerable to, con- 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



321 



formable, agreeable, suitable, adapted. 
See Accordant. 
CORRUPT— putrid, rotten,, spoiled, tainted, 
vitiated, unsound, depraved, debased, 
impure, wicked, sinful; not genuine. 
See Rotten, Wicked. 
Corrupt— become putrid, putrefy, rot; 
vitiate, deprave, infect, defile, pollute, 
contaminate, taint, adulterate, debase, 
sophisticate ; waste, spoil, consume ; 
pervert, falsify ; bribe; entice, allure. 
See Rot, Stain, Worse, make, Waste. 
Cottage— cot, cabin. See House. 
Council — assembly, parliament, congress, 
diet, senate, sanhedrim, cortes ; session, 
presbytery, synod, general assembly; con- 
sistory, college. See Calling together. 
Count — number, reckon, compute, esti- 
mate, rate, calculate ; ascribe, impute, 
charge; esteem, account, think, judge, 
consider, repute, hold. See Reckon, 
Accuse, Lay, Value, Think. 
Countryman — rustic, peasant, farmer, 
husbandman, agriculturist, cultivator, 
laborer, villager, cottager, cotter ; swain, 
hind, clown, plowman, churl, boor, 
bumpkin, lout. See Blockhead, Cox- 
comb, Awkward. 
Courage — bravery, intrepidity, resolu- 
tion, fortitude, heroism, boldness, fear- 
lessness, valor, firmness, daring, cour- 
ageousness, spirit, gallantry. See Bold, 
Brave. 
Course — running, flowing, passing, race, 
career, passage, voyage, road, route ; 
series; succession, order, turn, class, 
train, chain, concatenation, string, link, 
consecution ; system ; manner, way, 
mode, method, line, deportment; bent, 
propensity, will. See Order, Proceed- 
ing, Stream, Way, Bent. 
Covenant — See Bargain, Alliance. 
COVER— See Cloak, Hide. 
Covered with—Y. See Full. 
Covering — cover, covercle, coverlet, lid; 
shelter, defense, protection, covert; 
pavilion; veil, coat, tunic, capuchin; 
clothing, raiment, dress, garment, har- 
ness, armor, tackle, tackling, coat of 
mail, panoply, cap-a-pie, casque, hel- 
met, morion, head-piece, visor, mask, 
habergeon, cuirass, breastplate, brace- 
let, gauntlet, buckler, target, shield, 
greaves, shoe. See Clothes, Dress. 



Covet— See Desire, Wish. 
Cowardice— timidity, pusillanimity, cow 
ardliness, dastardliness, dastardness, 
timorousness, poltroonery; fear, appre- 
hension, dread. See Fear, Afraid. 
Coxcomb— vain showy fellow, fop, gay 
trifling man, macaroni, fribble, finical 
fellow. See Blockhead, Fool. 
Crane — See Bird. 
Credit — See Trust. 
Crime— See Blame, Sin, Wicked, Debt. 

Crooked — bent, curved, curving, incurv- 
ated, bowed, aquiline, hooked ; oblique, 
winding, awry, asquint; devious, fro- 
ward, perverse; disfigured, deformed. 
See Bent, Winding, Obstinate, Disfig- 
ure, Twist. 

CROSS— oblique, falling athwart, trans- 
verse ; adverse, opposite, obstructing ; 
perverse, intractable ; contrary, contra- 
dictory; perplexing; peevish, fretful, 
cynical, ill-humored, sour, morose, surly, 
snappish, crusty; vexatious, froward, 
untoward, petulant, captious, irritable, 
angry, splenetic, testy, crabbed, ill-tem- 
pered; interchanged. See Fretful, 
Angry, Ill-tempered, Pain. 

CROSS — pass over ; thwart, obstruct, hin- 
der, stop, embarrass, perplex, oppose, 
retard, impede, counteract, contravene ; 
clash with, interfere with, be inconsist- 
ent with. See Hinder, Puzzle, En- 
tangle. 

CROWD — collection, multitude, concourse, 
assemblage, assembly, congregation, 
throng, group, cluster, swarm. See 
Collection, Company. 

CRUEL — inhuman, merciless, unmerciful, 
pitiless, unrelenting, relentless, ruth- 
less, savage, fierce, ferocious, barbarous, 
hard-hearted, brutal, inexorable. See 
Brutal, Barbarous, Hard-hearted, Hard- 
ened, Unrelenting. 

Crumble — See Break. 

Cry — See Call out, Noise, Loud, Jingle. 

Culpable: — deserving blame, blameable, 
censurable, reprehensible, improvable, 
reproachable, faulty; sinful, criminal, 
immoral. See Blame, Fault. 

Cultivate — See Countryman. 

Cunning — (knowledge, skill, dexterity, 
obs.) ; art, artifice, artfulness, craft, 
craftiness, cunningness, subtility, du- 
plicity, deceit, deceitfulness, fraud, fa!- 



322 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



lacy, cheat, fraudulency, treachery, 
trickery, stratagem ; in law, trick, 
device, collusion, shift, covin. See 
Cheat, Falsehood, Trick, Story. 

Gunning — (knowing, skillful, experienced, 
well-instructed, dexterous, curious, in- 
genious, obs.); artful, crafty, sly, 
shrewd, astute, penetrating, designing, 
wily, arch, subtile, subtle, deceitful, 
trickish. See Sly, Deceitful. 

Cure — See Check. 

Custody — keeping, guarding, guard, care, 
watch, inspection ; imprisonment, con- 
finement, incarceration, restraint; de- 
fense, preservation, security. See Lib- 
erty, being deprived of. 

Custom — common use, usage, habit, fash- 
ion ; practice, way, manner, prescription. 
See Use, Way, Tax. 

CUT off — rescind, abscind, sever, prune, 
lop; separate, remove, take away, am- 
putate ; destroy, extirpate ; interrupt, 
intercept; end, finish; prevent, pre- 
clude, shut out. See Separate, Part, 
Maim. 

Dagger— See Weapon. 

Dainty — nice, delicious, savory, palatable, 
squeamish, fastidious, delicate, rare, 
luxurious ; scrupulous ; elegant, tender, 
soft, pure, neat. See Nice, Soft. 

DAMP — moisten, make humid, humectate, 
wet, water ; chill, cool, deaden, depress, 
deject, abate; weaken, make dull; 
check, restrain, make languid, discour- 
age, dishearten, dispirit. See Humor, 
Check, Lower. 

Danger — peril, hazard, risk, jeopardy, 
venture. See Chance. 

DARE — have courage, be bold, venture, 
presume ; challenge, provoke, defy, 
brave, set at defiance. See Attempt, 
Brave. 

Dark— See Gloom, Dull. 

Darkness — absence of light, obscurity, 
opaqueness, opacity, nebulosity, cloudi- 
ness, tenebrosity, dimness, dusk, dusk- 
ishness, eclipse, gloom, gloominess, 
shade, mistiness, dismalness, myste- 
riousness, inexplicableness ; ignorance; 
secrecy, privacy; hell; calamities, per- 
plexities, trouble, distress. See doom, 
Trouble, Dull. 

Dart— See Cast, Throw. 



Dash— See Strike. 

Daub — See Blot, Stain. 

Day— See Time. 

Deacon — See Clergyman. 

Dead — lifeless, deceased, defunct, inan- 
imate ; deep, sound ; still, motionless , 
empty, vacant ; unemployed, useless, 
unprofitable; dull, inactive; gloomy; 
frigid, cold, unanimated, unaffecting, 
used of prayers; tasteless, vapid, 
spiritless, used of liquors. See Life- 
less, Inanimate, Dull, Flat. 

DEADLY — mortal, fatal, lethal, life-destroy- 
ing, deleterious, destructive, poisonous ; 
implacable, inexorable, malignant. See 
Mortal, Unrelenting. 

Deal— See Trade. 

Death — See Perish. 

Debt — obligation, due, liability, claim, 
right; in Scripture, sin, trespass, 
transgression, guilt, crime. See Obli- 
gation, Right, Sin. 

Deceitful — deceiving, misleading, in 
snaring, beguiling, cheating, punic, fal- 
lacious, delusive, illusive, illusory, fraud- 
ulent, trickish, elusive, counterfeit; 
simulating, feigning, pretending. See 
Cunning, Sly, Corrupt, Spurious. 

Deceive — mislead, cause to err, impose 
on, delude, cozen, beguile, cajole, cheat ; 
frustrate, disappoint. See Cajole, 
Abuse, Cheat. 

Decider of disputes — umpire, arbiter, 
arbitrator. 

Deck— See Beautify. 

Declare— See Tell. 

Declare — make known, tell explicitly, 
exhibit, manifest; proclaim, publish, 
promulgate, announce; assert, aver, 
affirm ; asseverate, protest. See Pro- 
fess, Discover, Publish, Show. 

Decline— See Waste, Droop. 

Decree — edict, law, order, command, 
mandate, ordinance, proclamation, rule, 
prohibition; decision, judgment, sen- 
tence, adjudication ; purpose, determi- 
nation. See Command, Order, Judg- 
ment, Rule. 

Dedicate— See Set apart, Apply. 

Deed— See Performance. 

Defame— See Slander. 

Defeat — frustrate, disappoint, foil, 
balk, thwart, baffle, render null 
and void; disconcert, derange, un- 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



settle; overcome. See Beat, Baffle, 
Overcome. 

Defective — wanting, deficient, imperfect ; 
faulty, bad, blamable. See Culpable, 
Bad. 

Defend — See Protect. 

Defense — excuse, apology, plea, justifica- 
tion, vindication. See Covering, Excuse, 
Pretense, Fence. 

DefesTTE — limited, bounded, determi- 
nate ; positive, certain, fixed, precise, 
exact ; defining, limiting. See Limited, 
Settled. 

Delay — put off, prolong, defer, postpone, 
protract, prorogue, procrastinate ; 
lengthen, continue ; retard, stop, hin- 
der, detain, restrain. See Prorogue, 
Hinder, Keep, Pause, Stay, Loiter. 

Deliver — See Give up. 

Deluge — See Water. 

Denote: — mark, signify, express, show, 
indicate, imply, See Betoken, Mean, 
Mark. 

Dense — thick, close, compact, heavy. See 
Thick, Close, Tight. 

Deny— See Call back. 

Depravity — corruption, deprivation, 
wickedness, vice, profligacy, crime, sin. 
See Iniquity, Crime, Debt. 

DESCRIBE — depict, delineate, represent, 
mark, explain, define, recount. See 
Explain, Relate, Write. 

Desert — See Alone, Desolate. 

Design — plan, representation, sketch ; 
contrivance, project, plan, scheme ; pur- 
pose, purport, intention, aim. See 
Detention, Aim, Plan. 

DESIGN — delineate, sketch, form an out- 
line ; purpose, intend, mean ; project, 
scheme, plan, machinate, plot, colleague, 
contrive. See Mean, Invent, Plot, 
Plan, Contrive. 

DESIRE — See Wish, Hope, Avarice, Lust. 

DESOLATE — devastated, laid waste, neg- 
lected, destroyed ; solitary, desert, void, 
barren ; waste, dreary, drear, uninhab- 
ited, sad, melancholy, gloomy, destitute, 
lonely, lone ; deserted of God, afflicted, 
deprived of comfort. See Abandoned, 
Alone, Lonely. 

DESPAIR — hopelessness, hopeless state, 
desperation, despairing; despondency. 
See Lowness, Hopeless. 

E — See Disdain, Contumely. 



Despise — disdain, contemn, scorn, slight, 
disregard, neglect. See Disdain, Neg- 
lect. 

Despot — See King. 

DESPOTIC — arbitrary, absolute, self-willed, 
supreme, independent, uncontrolled, 
unlimited, unrestricted ; tyrannical. 
See Arbitrary. 

Destiny — state appointed or predeter- 
mined, ultimate fate ; fate, necessity, 
lot, doom, appointment. See Necessity, 
Ordain, Fix. 

Destroy — See Build, Waste. 

Destruction, great — slaughter, carnage, 
butchery, massacre, havoc, murder, 
trucidation. See Waste, Kill, Slaughter, 
Hurt. 

Determine — ended, concluded, decided, 
limited, fixed, settled, resolved, directed , 
resolute, bold, firm, steady, peremptory, 
decisive. See Bold, Firm, Ordain, Un- 
determined. 

Devil — See Enemy, Adversary. 

Devote— See Set apart. 

Devour — See Swallow. 

Diction — phraseology, wording, style, ex 
pression, manner of expression. See 
Language, Speech. 

Dictionary — lexicon, vocabulary, nomen- 
clature, glossary. See Nomenclature. 

Die — See Death. 

Difference — distinction, discrimination, 
disagreement, dissimilarity, variation, 
variety, diversity, dissimilitude, dispar- 
ity, inequality, contrariety; dispute, 
variance, debate, contention, quarrel, 
controversy, dissension, discord. See 
Disagreement, Quarrel. 

Different — See Unlike. 

DIFFICULT — not easy, hard to do, labo- 
rious, elaborate, arduous: unaccommo- 
dating, rigid, austere. See Severe. 

Difficulty (opposed to easiness or fa- 
cility) — bardship, labor, toil ; perplex- 
ity, embarrassment, trouble ; impedi- 
ment, obstacle, obstruction, opposition, 
hinderance, let. See Hinderance, Ob- 
stacle, Trouble, Ease. 

Diligence — See Attention. 

Diligent — assiduous, sedulous, attentive, 
industrious, careful, laborious, persever- 
ing, constant, active. See Active. 

Direction — aim ; course, line ; order, con- 
duct, management, disposal, adminis- 



824 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



tration, guidance, superintendence, 
supervision ; address, superscription. 
See Bent, Aim, Lead, Show. 

Disagreement — difference, division, dis- 
sension, discord, variance, strife, quar- 
rel ; unsuitableness. See Agreement, 
Difference, Quarrel. 

Discernible — perceptible, visible, dis- 
criminable, distinguishable, discovera- 
ble, ascertainable ; manifest, obvious, 
apparent, evident. See Clear, See. 

Discharge — See Do, Pay, Receipt, Clear. 

Disciple — adherent, follower, partisan ; 
learner, scholar. See Follower, Scholar. 

Discipline — training, education, instruc- 
tion, cultivation and improvement ; cor- 
rectness, order, control, restraint, gov- 
ernment, rule, subjection; correction, 
chastisement, punishment. See Educa- 
tion, Order, Improvement, Punish. 

DISCOURSE — See Speech, Dissertation. 

Discover — See Find out, Appear, make. 

DISCOVER — find out, invent, contrive, de- 
sign, devise : ascertain, detect ; uncover, 
lay open, disclose, show, make visible, 
reveal, make known, divulge, manifest, 
declare, expose; espy. See Contrive, 
Invent, Declare, Publish, Show. 

Disdain — contempt, contemptuousness, 
scorn ; haughtiness, hauteur, arrogance; 
indignation. See Contumely, Despise, 
Contemptible. 

Disease: — See Illness, Sick. 

Disfigure — deform, deface, change to a 
worse form, mar, impair, injure the 
form of. See Injure, Crooked, Form, 
Order, put out of. 

Disgrace — disfavor, disesteem, discredit, 
dishonor, disrepute, disreputation, 
scandal, reproach, ignominy, shame, 
infamy ; odium, obloquy, opprobrium. 
See Ashamed, Slander, Contumely, 
Lower, Shameful, Stain, Blemish. 

Disgust — disrelish, distaste, disinclina- 
tion, dislike ; aversion, repugnance, an- 
tipathy, odium, offensiveness, hatred; 
loathing, nausea, nauseousness. See 
Nausea, Hatred, Displeasure, Disgrace. 

DISOWN — disclaim, disavow, not to own, 
not to allow, deny; renounce, reject; 
recant, abjure, retract. See Call back. 

Dispel — drive asunder, disperse, dissi- 
pate, banish, scatter. See Scatter, 
Spread abroad. 



Displease — dissatisfy, annoy, tease, vex, 
offend, anger, irritate, worry, provoke. 
See Anger, Offend, Worry. 

Displeasure — dissatisfaction, disappro- 
bation, dislike, distaste, vexation, indig- 
nation, offense, chagrin, mortification, 
anger, annoyance. See Anger, Disgust, 
Enmity. 

Disposition— disposal, order, method, 
distribution, arrangement, adjustment; 
natural fitness or tendency ; inclination, 
bent, bias, propensity, propension ; tem- 
per, frame, mood, humor. See Order, 
Arrangement, Humor, Bent. 

Dissertation — treatise, essay, disquisi- 
tion, discussion, discourse. See Argu- 
ment, Essay. 

Distinguish — make or ascertain differ 
ence, discriminate, separate, discern, 
specify ; make eminent or known, sig- 
nalize. See Perceive, Separate, Find 
out. 

District — division, circuit, portion, allot- 
ment ; quarter, tract, region, territory, 
country. See Part, Country, Kingdom, 
Dominion. 

Di\tne — See Clergyman. 

DO — perform, effect, effectuate, bring to 
pass, execute, carry into effect, accom- 
plish, achieve, practice ; exert ; dis 
charge, convey; finish, transact. See 
Accomplish, Bring about, Make, Effect, 
Finish. 

DO a crime — commit, effect, perpetrate. 

DOCTOR — See Scholar. 

Doctrine — whatever is taught ; principle, 
truth, position; dogma, tenet; postu- 
late ; maxim. See Truth. 

DOLEFUL — sorrowful, expressing grief, 
mournful, melancholy, sad, afflicted, 
rueful, woeful, pitiful, piteous, dismal, 
gloomy. See Dull, Sad, Pitiable, Mel- 
ancholy. 

Dominion — sovereign or supreme author 
ity, rule, sway, authority, control, 
power ; reign, empire, sovereignty, gov- 
ernment; territory, region, country, 
district ; an order of angels. See Q-ov- 
ernment, Kingdom, District. 

DOTE — See Madness. 

Doubt — See Difficulty. 

Doubted, not to be — indisputable, incon- 
trovertible, incontestable, indubitable, 
unquestionable, undeniably, irrefutable, 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



325 



irrefragable, doubtless, questionless. 
evident, certain. See Certain, Sure. 
Actual. 

Doze — slumber, nap, be drowsy, sleep 
lightly : stupefy. 

Draw back — retire, recede, retreat, with- 
draw; out or from, extract, extort, 
exact : derive, deduce ; abstract. 

Dread — See Fear, Fright, Terrify. 

Dream— See Sleep. 

Dregs — sediment, lees, grounds, feculence, 
faeces, waste or worthless matter, dross, 
scoria, filings, rust, sweepings, refuse, 
scum, recrement. See Remains. 

DRESS — apparel, attire, habit, suit, clothes, 
array. See Clothes, Covering, Formal- 
ity. Beautify. 

Drese — beverage, liquor, tipple ; potion, 
draught, dose. 

Drive — See Force. 

DROOP — sink or hang down, languish. 
pine, fail, sink, decline, fade, faint, 
grow weak, be dispirited. See Faint, 
Weaken. 

Dross — See Remains. 

DRUXE — drunken, intoxicated, inebriated, 
crapulous, intemperate ; drenched, sat- 
urated with moisture or liquor ; tipsy, 
fuddled, tippled. See Intoxication, 
Luxury. 

Druid— See Friest. 

DRYXESS — aridness, aridity, drought, sic- 
city, thirst : barrenness, jejuneness, 
want of ornament or pathos ; want of 
feeling or sensibility. See Insensibility. 

Dull — stupid, doltish, blockish, slow of 
understanding ; heavy, sluggish, with- 
out life, spirit or motion, vapid, insen- 
sate, insensible, insipid, flat, phlegmatic, 
sleepy, drowsy : saturnine ; sad, melan- 
choly, dismal, gloomy, dejected, dis- 
pirited, cheerless ; gross, cloggy : not 
bright, clouded, tarnished, dim, obscure, 
not vivid, cloudy, overcast, not clear ; 
blunt, obtuse. See Sad, Doleful, Flat, 
Lifeless, Dead. Lonely, Fale. 

DUMB — mute, silent, not speaking, speech- 
less, taciturn : tacit. See Silent. 

DWELL — inhabit, reside, live, abide; re- 
main, stay, rest, continue : for a time, 
visit, sojourn, lodge. See Abide. Stay. 

Eagerness — ardent desire, animated zeal, 
vehement longing, avidity; ardor, ar- 



dency, zeal, heat, warmth, fervency, 
vehemence, impetuosity : forwardness, 
readiness, promptness. See Greediness, 
Zeal, Heat. Warmth. Quietness. 

EASE — facility, easiness, lightness : quiet, 
rest. See Quiet, Difficulty. 

Ea>e or Calm — free from pain. etc.. re- 
lieve, mitigate, alleviate, assuage, allay ; 
calm, appease, pacify, soothe, compose, 
tranquilize, quiet, still. See Calm, 
Quiet, Allay. 

Eat — See Swallow. 

ECCENTRIC — deviating, anomalous, irreg- 
ular ; departing, wandering, roaming, 
roving. See Odd, Wander. 

Ecclesiastic — theologian, divine, priest, 
clergyman, prelate, etc. See Clergy- 
man, Divine. 

Edge — margin, brink, border, brim, verge, 
rim, extremity : sharpness, acrimony, 
keenness, intenseness. See Bounds 
Brink. Sharpness. 

Ediey— See Build. 

EDUCATION — the bringing up, instruction 
training; formation, tuition, nurture 
breeding, information. See Instruct, 
Improvement, Discipline. 

EFEECT — what is produced, consequence, 
result, event, issue ; purpose, intent ; 
utility, profit, advantage : reality, fact : 
force, validity : effects, goods, movables, 
personal estate. See Issue, Goods, 
Make. Bring about. Operation. 

Effect, producing — effective, efficient, 
effectual, efficacious, operative, active, 
causing to be, productive : able, power- 
ful. See Make. Active, Able, Powerful. 

Eefigy — image, likeness, picture, resem- 
blance, representation, similitude, por- 
trait, figure, make. See Form, Like- 
ness. 

Elder— See Old. 

Elemexi — See Constituent. 

EMBLEM — inlay, mosaic work : type, sym- 
bol, figure, allusive picture, painted 
enigma, typical designation, representa- 
tion, allusion. See Figure, Mark. 

Embrace — take, clasp or inclose hi the 
arms, press, hug. gripe; seize eagerly, 
lay hold on, receive or take willingly: 
comprehend, include or take in : com- 
prise, inclose, compass, encompass, 
contain, encircle ; salute, etc. Ses 
Take, Kiss, Contain, Compass. 



326 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



Empty space — vacuum, vacuity, void, 
chasm. See Void. 

Emulous — See Jealousy. 

Encourage — give courage to, sanction, 
countenance, abet, foster, support, cher- 
ish ; embolden, animate, inspire, incite, 
instigate, inspirit, urge, impel. See 
Animate, Cheer, Foster, Strengthen. 
Protect, Support. 

End — See Finish. 

End — extreme, point, extremity, limit, 
termination, close, conclusion, ultimate 
state ; finish, consequence, issue, result ; 
ultimate point, object intended, scope, 
aim, drift. See Aim, Bound, Intention, 
Issue. 

End, without — endless, eternal, everlast- 
ing, sempiternal, infinite, interminable, 
perpetual, continual, incessant; bound- 
less, illimitable, unlimited. See Un- 
bounded, Bounds, Immense. 

Endow — gift, indue, invest, supply with, 
furnish, imbue. See Invest. 

Enemy — See Adversary, Inimical. 

Engross — seize in the gross, take the 
whole, engage wholly, absorb, monopo- 
lize, appropriate. See Swallow up. 

Enjoyment — fruition, pleasure, satisfac- 
tion, gratification, agreeable sensations, 
delight, delectation; possession, occu- 
pancy. See Pleasure, Sport. 

Enlighten — make light, shed light on, 
supply with light ; lighten, illume, illu- 
mine, illuminate; give light to, give 
clearer views, instruct. See Light, 
Instruct. 

Enlist — enroll, enter in a list, register, 
record, chronicle; recruit. See Cata- 
logue. 

Enliven — animate, cheer, exhilarate. See 
Animate, Cheer. 

Enmity — unfriendly disposition, ill-will, 
malevolence, animosity, hatred, malig- 
nity, hostility, rancor, malice, aversion, 
displeasure. See Displeasure, Hatred, 
Anger, Envy, Malice, Spite. 

Enough — sufficiency ; abundance, plenty ; 
competence, competency, adequacy. 
See Abounding. 

Entangle — twist, entwine, implicate, in- 
fold, inwrap, involve, perplex, embar- 
rass, distract, complicate, intricate, 
puzzle, bewilder; insnare, catch, 
trepan, entrap, illaqueate. See Twist, 



Cross, Grieve, Puzzle, Intricacy, Con- 
fused. 

Enthusiast — person of ardent zeal, zealot, 
fanatic, visionary ; bigot. See Warm. 

Entire— See Whole. 

Entrails — See Bowels. 

Entreat — beseech, supplicate, importune, 
exhort, implore. See Beg, Ask, Pray, 
Encourage. 

Entreaty — urgent prayer, earnest peti- 
tion, prayer, supplication, petition, re- 
quest, solicitation, suit, exhortation, 
persuasion. See Petition, Beg, Pray. 

Envy — malevolence, ill-will, malice, ma- 
lignity, pique, grudge; suspicion, jeal- 
ousy, public odium, ill-repute, invidious- 
ness; rivalry, emulation, competition. 
See Enmity, Malice, Spite. 

EQUAL — same, even, uniform, not varia- 
ble, equable; just, equitable, right; 
adequate, proportionate, commensurate, 
equivalent, competent, meet. See Able, 
Suitable, Fair, Like, Even, Inadequate. 

Erect— See Bight. 

Espoused — engaged in marriage, be- 
trothed, affianced, contracted, married, 
wedded; embraced. See Marriage. 

Espy — sec, discern, detect, discover, per- 
ceive, descry. See Perceive, Look. 

Essay — tract, treatise ; essay, trial, etc. 
See Dissertation, Attempt, Try. 

Esteem— See Value, Reckon. 

Eternal — See Lasting. 

Even — level, smooth, not rough, flat, 
plain ; uniform, equal, calm, equable. 
See Equal, Calm. 

Event— See Chance. 

Every— See All, Whole. 

Evidence — proof, testimony, attestation.; 
voucher, certificate, deposition. See 
Prove, Proof. 

Evil— See 111, Bad, Wicked. 

Example — pattern, model, paradigm, 
C0 Py? precedent, former instance, ex- 
emplar, original, archetype, instance, 
exemplary person ; sample, specimen. 
See Copy, Likeness. 

Excess — more than enough, superfluous- 
ness ; superfluity, redundancy ; exuber- 
ance, superabundance. See Extrava- 
gance, Much, too. 

Excursion — rambling; expedition, jour- 
ney, trip, tour, jaunt, ramble. See 
Ramble. 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



327 



EXCUSE — apology, plea, defense, pretense, 
pretext. See Defense, Cloak, Covering. 

Exhort — See Encourage, Entreat. 

Exile — banish, expatriate, expel, pro- 
scribe. See Banishment. 

EXPENSE — money expended, cost, charge, 
price ; dearness, costliness, expensive- 
ness. See Lavish. 

Expensive — costly, sumptuous, valuable, 
dear ; given to expense, extravagant, 
lavish, prodigal, profuse; liberal, gen- 
erous, See Spend, Lavish, Waste. 

Experience— See Trial, 

Expert — dexterous, skillful, ready. See 
Ready. 

Expiate — atone for, satisfy, propitiate; 
compensate, requite. See Amends, 
make, Satisfy. 

Explain — make plain, expound, illustrate, 

• explicate, unfold, elucidate, illuminate, 
interpret, describe, define, solve. See 
Describe, Clear, Relate, Unfold. 

EXPIiANATiON — exposition, illustration, in- 
terpretation, explication, definition, 
description, elucidation, solution. See 
Comment. 

Explanatory — serving to explain, exe- 
getical, expository, descriptive, illustra- 
tive, elucidatory: explicit, express; 
circumstantial, minute. See Clear. 

Expunge: — efface, blot out, obliterate, 
erase, rase, cancel. 

EXTRAVAGANT — wandering beyond limits, 
prodigality, profusion, profuseness, ex- 
cess; irregularity, wildness, preposter- 
ousness, monstrosity. See Excess, 
Waste, Lavish. 

ExmEMiTY— #66 End. 

Fable — See Story. 

Fabric — frame, structure, building, edi- 
fice; texture, contexture, web, work- 
manship. See Building, House. 

Faction — junto, clique, cabal, party, co- 
terie ; tumult, discord, dissension. See 
Quarreling, Party, Plot. 

Fade — See Droop. 

Fall — See Weakness, Fault, Miscarriage. 

Failure — failing, deficience, cessation 
of supply, total defect ; omission, non- 
performance ; decay, defect ; bank- 
ruptcy, breaking in estate, breaking, 
insolvency. 

Faint — weak, feeble, languid, exhausted. 



low ; not bright ; not loud, low : imper- 
fect, not striking ; cowardly, timorous ; 
not vigorous, not active ; dejected, de- 
pressed, dispirited. See Weak, Droop, 
Low. 

Fair — clear, beautiful, handsome ; clear, 
not cloudy ; open, frank, honest : equal, 
just, equitable, right, reasonable, up- 
right ; honorable, mild ; civil, pleasing, 
not harsh, See Beautiful, Clear, Art, 
without, Equal, Open, Reasonable. 

Faith— See Trust. 

FATTHFULNESS— fidelity, fealty, loyalty, 
trustiness, honesty, firm adherence, 
strict performance ; truth, veracity. See 
Belief, Truth, Honesty. 

Faithless — unbelieving, not believing ; 
perfidious, treacherous, punic, disloyal, 
uirfaithful, neglectful; false. See De- 
ceitful, Uirfaithfulness. 

Fall— See Tumble. 

False — See Deceive, G-enuine, not. 

Falsehood — untruth, fabrication, fiction, 
falsify, lie, fib; mendacity; deceit, 
fraud, fallacy, duplicity, double-dealing, 
falseness, counterfeit, imposture. See 
Cheat, Cunning, Invent, Lie, Story. 

Fame — public report or rumor ; celebrity, 
renown ; reputation, credit, esteem, 
honor ; rumor, report. See Character, 
Respect, Hearsay, Xame. 

Family — See House. 

Familiar — acquainted with, conversant, 
versed in; affable, free, sociable. See 
Free. 

Familiarity — intimate acquaintance, in- 
timacy, affability, sociability, courtesy, 
freedom. See Freedom, Acquaintance, 
Intimacy. 

FAMOUS — renowned, celebrated, much- 
talked of and praised, illustrious, distin- 
guished, eminent ; conspicuous ; excel- 
lent, transcendent. See Xoted. 

Fanciful — full of fancies or wild images, 
fantastical, whimsical, ideal, visionary, 
chimerical, capricious, humorsome, 
freakish; imaginative. See Odd, Im- 
aginary. 

Fancy— See Think. 

Farce— See Sport. 

Fasten — make fast, lock, bolt, bar, secure, 
fix : join to, affix, attach, append, ami ex, 
conjoin, adjoin, subjoin ; adhere, co- 
here, stick. See Fix, Join. 



328 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



PATE— See Destiny. 

FATNESS — obesity, obeseness, fleshiness, 
corpulency, grossness, coarseness ; unc- 
tuousness, sliminess, richness, fertility, 
fruitfulness. See Bigness, Lusty. 

Fault — See Blame. 

FAULT — erring, failing, error, mistake, 
blunder, defect, blemish, imperfection, 
slight offense, foible, weakness, frailty. 
See Mistake, Blemish, "Weakness, Cul- 
pable. 

FAVOR — kind regard, kindness, counte- 
nance, friendly disposition, grace, kind 
act 07' office, beneficence, benevolence, 
good-will, lenity ; leave, pardon ; advan- 
tage, convenience; support, defense, 
vindication. See Kindness, Charity, 
Support. 

Fawn — coax, wheedle, cajole, soothe, hu- 
mor, flatter meanly, blandish, court 
servilely, cringe and bow to gain favor. 
See Flatter, Cajole. 

FEAR — apprehension, alarm, dread, terror, 
fright, panic, consternation ; anxiety, 
solicitude ; slavish dread ; filial fear, 
reverential fear, awe, reverence, vener- 
ation ; law and word of G-od. See Cow- 
ardice, Afraid, Dread, Fright, Terrify, 
Trembling, Jealousy. 

Fearful — full of fear, apprehensive, 
afraid, timid, timorous, wanting cour- 
age; impressing fear, frightful, dread- 
ful, tremendous, terrible, terrific, formi- 
dable, horrible, horrid, horrific. See 
Afraid, Formidable, Ghastly. 

Feast — banquet, regale, sumptuous enter- 
tainment, rich repast, delicious meal, 
carousal, treat; festival, holiday. See 
Luxury. 

Feeble— See Weak. 

Feed — See Nourish. 

Feeling — sensation, sense ; sensibility, 
susceptibility ; excitement, emotion ; 
pathos, tenderness, concern. See 
Sense, Kindness. 

Feeling, want of— apathy, etc. See In- 
sensibility. 

Feign— See Forged. 

Fellow-helper — coadjutor, assistant ; 
colleague, partner. See Share. 

Fence — wall, hedge, ditch, bank, etc. ; 
guard, security, defense ; fencing. See 
Ditch, Defense, Guard 

Fever— See Hot. 



Fierce— See Cruel. 

Figure — See Form. 

Figure of speech — trope, metaphor, alle- 
gory, metonymy, synecdoche, irony, etc. 
See Speech, Emblem. 

Find out — discover, invent, detect, ascer- 
tain ; unriddle, solve ; descry, discern, 
discriminate, distingush. See Discover, 
Invent, Distinguish. 

Fine — mulct, amerce, confiscate ; pecu- 
niary punishment, mulct, amercement, 
penalty, forfeit, forfeiture, confiscation. 
See Punish, Pay. 

Finish — complete, perfect, accomplish, 
conclude, end, terminate, close. See 
Do, Perfect. 

Firm — fixed, compact, hard, solid, sclerot- 
ic, stable, steady; constant, unshaken, 
resolute; strong, robust, sturdy. See^ 
Determined, Solid, Strong. 

Fit — suitable, convenient, meet, becom- 
ing, expedient, proper, apt ; qualified. 
See Able, Becoming, Suitable, Meet, 
Necessary. 

Frr — adapt, suit, accommodate, furnish, 
adjust, proportion ; qualify, prepare, fit 
out, furnish, equip, accouter. See 
Qualify. 

Fix — make stable, set immovably, destine, 
establish, settle, confirm, ingraft, im- 
plant ; resolve, determine, limit ; ap- 
point, institute ; make fast, fasten, 
secure, attach ; place steadily, direct. 
See Settle, Appoint, Assign, Ordain, 
Fasten. 

FLAT — smooth ; level, horizontal ; pros- 
trate, fallen ; tasteless, stale, vapid, 
insipid, dead ; inanimate, lifeless, inert ; 
dull, unanimated, frigid ; dejected, spir- 
itless, depressed ; nnpleasing ; peremp- 
tory, absolute, positive, downright ; not 
sharp or shrill, not acute; low, dull. 
See Dull, Inanimate, Lifeless, Taste, 
Positive, Low. 

FLATTER — adulate, fawn, blandish, com- 
pliment, soothe, please, gratify, gloze, 
wheedle, coax. See Fawn, Cajole. 

FLAY — skin, excoriate, strip off the skin, 
gall, rub or wear off the skin, abrade. 

Fleet— See Ship. 

Flirt — pert hussy, jilt, coquette. 

Flood — See Water. 

FLOURISH — grow luxuriantly, thrive, pros- 
per, succeed. See Prosper. 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



329 



Flow — See Issue, Overflow. 

Flutter — move or flap the wings rapidly, 
hover ; palpitate, vibrate, undulate, 
pant. See Palpitate. 

Fold — See Entangle. 

Follower — adherent, partisan, depend- 
ent, vassal, retainer, imitator ; disciple, 
scholar, learner ; pursuer ; successor ; 
attendant, companion, associate. See 
Disciple, Companion, Scholar, Villain. 

Folly — weakness of intellect, imbecility 
of mind, want of understanding ; non- 
sense, foolery, silliness, inanity, irra- 
tionality, unreasonableness ; trifling, 
puerility ; weakness, vacuity. See Mad- 
ness, Weakness. 

FOOD — diet, regimen ; meat, aliment, vic- 
tuals, provision, eatables, edibles, fare, 
maintenance ; for beasts, provender, 
fodder, litter ; pasture, pasturage. See 
Livelihood. 

Fool — natural idiot, driveller, simpleton, 
changling, trifler. See Coxcomb, Mimic, 
Blockhead. 

Fool-hardy — daring without judgment, 
rash, precipitate, hasty, foolishly bold, 
incautious, daring, adventurous, ven- 
turesome, venturous. See Bold, Hasty. 

Foolish — void of understanding or sound 
judgment, weak in intellect ; unwise, 
imprudent ; simple, silly, irrational, 
vain, trifling; ridiculous, absurd, pre- 
posterous, unreasonable, despicable ; 
wicked, sinful. See Weak, Vain, Insen- 
sible, Wicked, Impertinent. 

Forbid — prohibit, interdict, bid not to do, 
proscribe, inhibit; restrain, check, op- 
pose, hinder, obstruct; deny, gainsay, 
contradict. See Gainsay, Keep, Check, 
Hinder. 

Force — compel, coerce, constrain, oblige, 
necessitate ; enforce, urge, press, drive, 
impel; storm, assault; exact, extort. 
See Oblige, Make. 

FORCE — strength, active power, power, 
vigor, might, energy ; violence, com- 
pulsory power, coercion, compulsion, 
obligation, constraint, destiny, neces- 
sity ; momentum or quantity of power 
produced by the action of one body on 
another ; virtue, efficacy ; validity, 
power to bind or hold; strength or 
power for war, armament, troops, army, 
navy ; physical force, or force of ma- 

28 



terial bodies ; moral force, or power of 
acting on or influencing the mind; 
mechanical force, or power that be- 
longs to bodies at rest or in motion — as 
pressure, tension, etc. See Power, Ob- 
ligation, Oblige. 

Foreign— See Outward, Abroad. 

Foresight — forethought, premeditation, 
forecast ; prescience, foreknowledge, 
prognostication; provident care; pre- 
vious contrivance. See Knowledge, 
Before. 

Foretell — See Betoken, Know. 

Forged — hammered, beaten, made ; coun- 
terfeit, feigned, false, fictitious, in- 
vented, fabricated, dissembled, framed, 
untrue, base. See Falsehood. Genuine, 
not, Art, made by, Invent. 

Forgive — See Clear, Excuse. 

FORLORN — See Alone, Solitary. 

FORM — shape, figure, mold, configuration, 
conformation, construction ; manner, 
disposition; model, pattern, draught; 
beauty, elegance, splendor, dignity ; 
regularity, method, order; empty show, 
external appearance, semblance; stated 
method, established practice, ritual, 
proscribed mode, rite, ceremony, ob- 
servance, fashion. See Appearance, At- 
titude, Way, Make, Effigy, Order. 

FORM — shape, mold, fashion, model, mod- 
ify ; scheme, plan, contrive, invent; 
arrange, combine ; make, frame, cause 
to be, create, produce, compose, consti- 
tute, construct, compile, establish ; 
enact, ordain. See Plan, Invent, Make, 
Ordain. 

Formal — according to form, regular, 
methodical ; precise, ceremonious, exact, 
stiff, express; external; constituent, 
essential, proper. See Regular, Con 
stituent. 

Formality — practice or observance of 
forms, external appearance, ceremony, 
mode, method, system, order, rule, pre- 
cision, decorum, decency, seemliness; 
mode of dress, habit, robe. See Sys- 
tem, Order, Dress. 

Formidable — exciting fear or apprehen- 
sion, impressing dread, appalling, ter- 
rific, terrible, deterring, tremendous, 
horrible, frightful, shocking. See Fear- 
ful, Ghastly, Hideous. 

FORSAKE — See Leave, Abandon. 



330 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



Fortunate — lucky, successful, prosper- 
ous, happy ; propitious, auspicious. See 
Lucky, Happy. 

Fortune— chance, hazard, accident, luck ; 
success, event ; chance of life, means of 
living, wealth ; estate, possessions ; 
large estate, great wealth ; futurity, 
destiny, fate, doom, lot. See Chance, 
Misfortune, Riches, Destiny. 

Foster — feed, nourish, support, bring up ; 
cherish, harbor, indulge, encourage. 
See Breed, Encourage, Harbor, Nourish. 

Found — lay the basis, set, settle, place, 
establish, fix ; institute, begin, originate ; 
rest, ground ; build, construct, rear, 
erect. See Settle, Fix, Begin, Build. 

Fountain— See Spring. 

Frame— See Make. 

Fraud— See Cheat, Deceitful. 

FREE — disengage, disentangle, rid, strip, 
clear ; set at liberty, liberate, enfran- 
chise, emancipate, rescue, release, re- 
lieve, manumit, loose, save, preserve, 
deliver, exempt. See Clear, Redeem, 
Liberty, being deprived of. 

Free — being at liberty, unconstrained, 
unrestrained, unconfmed, permitted, j 
allowed; open, candid, frank, ingenu- 
ous, unreserved ; liberal, generous, 
bountiful, munificent, not parsimonious ; 
gratuitous ; familiar, easy ; clear, ex- 
empt, guiltless, innocent. See Open, 
Clear, Generous, Ready. 

Freedom — liberty, independence, unre- 
straint ; exemption, privilege, immunity, 
franchise; frankness, boldness; famil- 
iarity; license, improper familiarity; 
liberation, emancipation, release, en- 
franchisement. See Privilege, Liberty, 
being deprived of, Familiarity. 

Freight — cargo, burden, load, lading, 
transportation of goods; ship's hire. 
See Burden. Ship. 

Fretful — ill-humored, peevish, testy, 
easily irritated, splenetic, angry, petu- 
lent, captious. See Cross, Angry, Com- 
plaining, always. 

Fright — frighten, terrify, scare, alarm, 
daunt, dismay, intimidate ; dishearten, 
discourage, deter. See Fear, Terrify, 
Dread. 

Frolic— wild prank, flight of levity, or 
gayety and mirth, game, jest, joke, gam- 
bol, fun. See Jest, Sport, Whim. 



Fruitful — fertile, prolific, pregnant, fe- 
cund, generating, productive, abundant, 
plentiful, plenteous. See Abounding, 
Breed. 

Fury— See Madness. 

Gain — get, win, earn, realize, obtain, ac- 
quire, procure, receive; reach, attain 
to. arrive at ; — gain, profit, interest, ad- 
vantage, emolument, lucre, benefit. See 
Prosper, Profitable, Benefit. 

Gainsay — contradict, oppose, deny, forbid, 
controvert, dispute. See Forbid, Ob- 
ject. 

Gall — See Anger, Spite. 

GAP — opening, breach, break; avenue, 
passage, way; chasm, aperture, cleft, 
hiatus; defect, flaw. See Opening, 
Way. 

Gather— See Calling together, Collec- 
tion, Council. 

GAY — merry, airy, jovial, sportive, frolic- 
some ; fine, showy, fashionable, stylish, 
gallant; dissipated, profligate. See 
Merry, Showy. 

Generate— #<?<? Breed. 

Generous — well-born, noble, honorable, 
magnanimous; liberal, benign, benefi- 
cent, bountiful, bounteous, munificent, 
free to give ; strong, full of spirit ; full, 
overflowing, abundant ; overmuch, pro- 
fuse, prodigal, extravagant. See Free, 
Abounding, Strong, Full, Bounty. 

Genteel — polite, well-bred, easy and 
graceful, gentlemanly, gentleman-like, 
urbane, courteous, polished, refined, 
elegant. See Polite. 

Gentle— See Calm, Soft, Kind. 

Genuine — native, real, authentic, natural, 
true, pure, not spurious ; unadulterated, 
unalloyed, unsophisticated, unpolluted, 
pure, unmixed, uncontaminated. See 
Actual, Intrinsic, Sincere. 

Genuine, not — spurious, unreal, untrue, 
supposititious, sophisticated, contam- 
inated, polluted, vitiated, corrupted, 
adulterated, adulterine. See Forged, 
Spurious, Bastard, Vain. 

Ghastly — like a ghost, pale, dismal, 
death-like, cadaverous, wan, grim, 
frightful, hideous, appalling, horrible, 
shocking. See Fearful, Formidable, 
Hideous. 

Ghost — specter, apparition, phantom, 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



331 



vision, hobgoblin, fairy, fay, elf, demon, 
evil spirit, devil. See Appearance, 
Vision. 

Giant— See Great. 

GiBE — reproach, sneer, deride, taunt, 
scoff, rail at, flout, fleer, jeer. See Re- 
proach, Abuse, Jest, Laugh at. 

GUT — donation, donative, benefaction, 
present, gratuity ; reward, bribe ; power, 
faculty, talent, endowment; by will, 
legacy, bequest; devise. See Reward, 
Power. 

Gimblet— See Bore. 

Gird — See Surround, Tie. 

Give — bestow, confer, impart, communi- 
cate, present, grant, allow, transmit, 
deliver ; afford, supply, furnish ; pro- 
duce, show, exhibit ; render, pronounce, 
yield, resign ; back restore, return. See 
Grant, Allow, Give up, Offer. 

GIVE up — deliver, consign, cease, leave, 
resign, quit, yield, surrender, relinquish, 
cede, concede, abandon, addict, devote; 
renounce, abdicate, forego; forsake, de- 
sert. See Leave, Abandon, Lay. 

GLAD — gratified, happy, pleased, de- 
lighted, rejoiced, exhilarated ; cheerful, 
joyous, joyful, exhilarating, exciting 
joy. See Happy, Merry, Lively. 

GLADDEN — make glad, cheer, please, grat- 
ify, exhilarate, delight, rejoice. See 
Cheer, Rejoice. 

GLANCE — glimpse, quick view, short tran- 
sitory look, peep. See Look. 

Gleam — shoot of light, glimmer, beam, 
ray; brightness, splendor. See Beam, 
Blaze, View, Shine. 

GMDE—See Fall. 

GLOOM — obscurity, partial or total dark- 
ness, thick shade, cloudiness, heaviness, 
dullness, melancholy, sadness, aspect of 
sorrow, sullenness. See Darkness, 
Dull, Lonely. 

Glory— See Honor. 

GLOSS — make smooth and shining, var- 
nish, cover ; palliate, cover with excuse, 
extenuate, lessen. See Cloak, Lessen. 

GLOW— See Warm, Hot. 

Gnaw— See Eat. 

GO — move, pats, flow, walk, travel, jour- 
ney, depart ; up, ascend, mount, rise ; 
forward, advance, proceed, forward, 
promote; before, precede, prevent, an- 
ticipate; beyond, transgress, exceed, 



surpass, excel, transcend ; back, recede, 
return, retreat, withdraw, retire, retro- 
grade, retrocede ; in or on, invade, en- 
croach, intrench. See Move, Ramble, 
Wander, Anticipate, Proceeding, In- 
trude. 
Goad— See Stir. 

Godlike — resembling God, divine, super- 
human ; heavenly, celestial. See Heav- 
enly. 
Godly — holy, sanctified, righteous, pious, 
religious, devout, sanctimonious. See 
Spiritual, Heavenly, Holy, Religion. 
Going- before — preceding, foregoing, an- 
tecedent, previous, anterior, prior, 
former. See Introductory, Priority. 
GOOD — benefit, interest, advantage, emol- 
ument, profit ; welfare, prosperity ; vir 
tue, righteousness. See Interest, Ben- 
efit, Kindness, Bounty. 
GOODS — movables, effects, chattels, furni 
ture, personal estate ; wares, merchan 
dise. commodities, stock. See Stock, 
Merchandise, Property. 
Gore — See Blood. 
Govern— See Master. 
Government — direction, regulation, rule, 
control, satrapy, jurisdiction, restraint, 
management, power, dominion, sover- 
eignty ; administration, constitution, 
ministry ; empire, kingdom, state ; ex- 
ecutive power. See Dominion, King 
dom. 
GRACE — See Mercy, Kindness, Becoming, 

Beautify. 
Grand — great, illustrious, splendid, mag- 
nificent, noble, dignified, elevated, sub- 
lime, lofty, exalted, majestic, magiste- 
rial, stately, pompous, august. See 
Majestic, Great, High, ShoAvy. 
GRANT — admit, allow, yield, concede; 
give, bestow, confer ; permit ; transfer, 
convey. See Give, Allow, Suffer. 
Grateful — thankful, impressed, mind 
ful; agreeable, pleasing, acceptable, 
gratifying, pleasant, we/ "ome ; deli- 
cious. See Agreeable. 
GRATITUDE — thankfulness, gratefulness ; 
thanks, acknowledgments. See Pleas- 
ure. 
GRAVE — low, depressed ; solemn ; sober, 
serious, sedate; plain, not gay, not 
showy ; important, momentous, weighty. 
See Low, Sober, Severe, Important. 



332 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



Great— See Grand, Large. 

Greatness— of size, magnitude; bulk; 
corpulence ; of mind, magnanimity ; 
of rank, majesty ; of number, major- 
ity ; of shoiv or state, magnificence, 
grandeur. See Bigness, Size, Fatness, 
Large. 

Great or Greater, make — magnify, en- 
large, amplify, exaggerate, augment, 
aggrandize ; extol, exalt, elevate. See 
Larger, make, Praise, Heighten. 

Greediness — keenness of appetite, raven- 
ousness, gluttony, voracity, voracious- 
ness, rapacity, rapaciousness ; ardent 
desire, avidity, eagerness. See Eager- 
ness, Rapacious, Eat. 

Grief— -sorrow, regret, lamentation, weep- 
ing*, mourning, affliction, pain. See 
Pain, Repentance. 

Grieve — mourn, bewail, bemoan, lament, 
complain, weep, sorrow, cry ; afflict, 
wound, hurt, move, concern, distress, 
trouble, perplex, vex, disquiet ; for, 
deplore, bewail, bemoan, etc. ; with 
another, condole, sympathize. See 
Mourn, Complain, Hurt, Entangle. 

GROSS — thick, bulky; fat, corpulent; 
coarse, rude, rough ; indelicate, mean, 
vulgar, impure, unrefined, indecent, ob- 
scene, improper, inappropriate, un- 
seemly, unbecoming, shameful ; large, 
enormous, great ; dense ; unattenuated ; 
stupid, dull ; whole, entire. See Thick, 
Common, Mean, Fatness. 

Grow — See Spring. 

Guarantee — See Answerable for. 

Guard — See Security, Keep. 

Guess — See Think. 

Guide — See Lead, Instruct. 

Guile— See Cheat. 

Habit — See Dress, Custom. 

Hammer— See Beat. 

Handsome — elegant, nice, beautiful. See 
Beautiful, Nice. 

Happen— See Chance. 

Happiness — beatitude, felicity, bliss, bless- 
edness; welfare, prosperity, success. 
See Prosper. 

Happy — See Glad, Fortunate. 

Harbor — haven, port, bay, inlet ; asylum, 
shelter, lodging. 

Harbor — shelter, secure, secrete, receive, 
lodge; entertain, cherish, foster, in- 
dulge. See Hide, Protect, Foster. 

Hard — See Solid. 



HARDENED — made hard, indurated, in- 
ured ; obdurate, callous, impenetrable, 
obstinate, unfeeling, insensible, impen- 
itent ; remorseless. See Insensible, 
Cruel. 

HARD-HEARTED — cruel, pitiless, merciless, 
unfeeling, inhuman, inexorable, unmer- 
ciful. See Cruel, Unrelenting. 

Harm — See Hurt. 

Harmless— not hurtful or injurious, in- 
nocuous, innoxious, inoffensive, un- 
offending ; innocent, not guilty ; unhurt, 
undamaged, uninjured. See Stain, 
without. 

Hasten — make haste, haste, expedite, 
speed, dispatch, hurry, press, drive or 
urge forward, push on, precipitate, ac- 
celerate. See Quicken. 

Hasty — quick, speedy, hurried ; eager, 
precipitate, rash , cursory, slight ; irri- 
table, irrascible, passionate. See Quick, 
Careless, Fool-hardy, Rashness, Angry, 
Tumultuous. 

Hateful— exciting great dislike, aversion 
or disgust, odious, abominable, detest 
able, execrable ; malignant, malevolent. 
See Malicious. 

Hatred — great dislike or aversion, hate, 
enmity, rancor, malevolence, malice, 
abhorrence, detestation, aversion, re- 
pugnance, antipathy, dislike. See En 
Hiity, Malice, Spite, Envy. 

Haughty — See Proud, Commanding. 

Head — See Behead, Master. 

Heap — See Collection, Crowd. 

HEAR — listen, hearken, overhear, attend, 
heed, mark, observe, notice, regard, 
obey ; learn, be told. See Mark, Notice. 

Hearsay — common talk, rumor, report, 
fame, gossip, mere or idle talk. See 
Talk, Fame. 

Hearty — from the heart, cordial, sincere, 
warm, zealous ; sound, strong, healthy. 
See Warm, Affectionate, Zealous. 

Heat — See Warm, Hot, Anger. 

Heavenly — celestial; angelic, angelical, 
spiritual, sublime, divine, supremely 
excellent, superhuman, supernatural, 
preternatural. See Godlike, Godly, 
Holy. 

Height of any thing — crisis, acme ; cli- 
max, summit, top, point, apex. See 
Top. 

Heighten — raise higher, lift, raise, ele- 
vate, exalt ; advance, improve, amelio- 
rate, increase; aggravate, exasperate, 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



333 



irritate, inflame, excite. See Greater, 
make. Lift, Anger. 

Helmet — See Covering. 

Help — See Assist. 

HERETIC — schismatic, sectarian, sectary, 
skeptic, infidel, unbeliever, disbeliever, 
pagan, heathen. 

Hero— See Brave. 

Hidden — See Secret. 

Hide — keep secret, conceal, abscond, dis- 
guise, shelter, secrete, cover, screen, 
dissemble. See Hover, Protect, Bury, 
Cover. 

Hideous — frightful, terrific, ugly, horri- 
ble, horrid, dreadful, shocking, detest- 
able. See Ghastly, Formidable. 

High — tall, elevated, alpine, lofty, exalted, 
raised; noble, magnanimous; aspiring, 
proud. See Proud, Grand, Majestic. 

Hinder — stop, interrupt, intercept, ob- 
struct, impede, prevent, oppose, thwart, 
embarrass ; retard, delay. See Oppose, 
Check, Delay, Interrupt, Prevent, Stay. 

Hinderance — let, impediment, obstacle, 
obstruction, retarding, delay, opposi- 
tion, difficulty. See Difficulty, Let, 
Obstacle. 

Hint — suggest, intimate, insinuate, refer 
to, allude to, glance at — a hint, innuen- 
do. See Refer. 

Hire — See Pay. 

History — See Chronicles. 

Hold — See Contain, Keep. 

HOLINESS — sanctity, sanctitude, piety, de- 
votion, devoutness, godliness, righteous- 
ness ; sacredness. See Religion. 

Holy — whole, entire, perfect; pure, im- 
maculate ; sanctified, pious, devout, re- 
ligious; hallowed, consecrated, sacred, 
divine. See Whole, Godly, Heavenly, 
Spiritual. 

Honesty — integrity, probity, rectitude, 
uprightness, justice, purity, sincerity, 
veracity, virtue ; equity, fairness, can- 
dor, truth, honor. See Justice, Chaste- 
ness, Truth, Uprightness, Faithful- 
ness, Correct. 

Honor — See Praise. 

HONOR — revere, respect, reverence, vener- 
ate, dignify, exalt, glorify, render glo- 
rious. See Respect. 

HOPE — expectation, wish, desire, anticipa- 
tion ; opinion, belief, trust, dependence, 
reliance, confidence. See Wish, Belief, 
Confidence. 

HOPELESS — without hope, desperate, irre- 



trievable, irremediable, irrecoverable, 
lost, gone, abandoned ; despairing, de- 
spondent. See Abandoned, Wicked, 
Despair. 

HOT — calid, fervid, fervent, ardent, burn- 
ing, feverish, sultry, fiery, piping; ex- 
cited, exasperated, violent, furious, im- 
petuous, passionate, irritable ; eager, 
vehement, zealous, animated, brisk, 
keen ; acrid, biting, stimulating, pun- 
gent. See Intense, Boil, Heat, Angry, 
Passionate, Warm, Keen. 

HOUSE — habitation, residence, dwelling, 
abode, cottage, villa, cot, hut, hovel, 
cabin, wigwam, shed ; mansion, manse, 
messuage, tenement, edifice, building ; 
temple, church, monastery, college, pal- 
ace ; manner of living, the table ; fam 
ily, household, ancestors, lineage, race, 
dynasty, stock, tribe; deliberative or 
legislative body of men. See Building, 
Abode, Race, Stock. 

Hue — See Color. 

Humble — near the ground, low ; lowly, 
modest, meek, submissive; unpresum- 
ing, unpretending, unassuming, un- 
aspiring. See Low, Obedient. 

Humble — make low, humiliate, abase, 
reduce, lower, bring down, debase, de- 
grade, disgrace, deject ; crush, break, 
subdue ; mortify ; make lowly, make 
meek and submissive to the divine will ; 
humble one's self, repent, make con- 
trite. See Abase, Lower, Lessen. 

HUMOR — moisture, fluid ; turn of mind, 
temper, disposition, mood, frame, turn, 
tendency, bent, bias ; freak, whim, 
maggot, caprice ; wit, satire, burlesque, 
drollery, fun, pleasantry, jocularity, 
comicality. See Damp, Disposition, 
Bent. 

Hurt — See Injury, Grieve, Maim. 

Hurt — wound, bruise ; detriment, dam- 
age, loss, injury, disadvantage, harm, 
mischief, bane, prejudice, deterioration, 
depravity, depravation, corruption, vitia- 
tion. See Bane, Destruction, Injury. 

HURTFUL— injurious, mischievous, perni- 
cious, detrimental, prejudicial, baneful, 
pestilential, harmful, destructive, no- 
cent, noxious, noisome, insalubrious, 
unwholesome. See Inimical, Injure, 
Abusive. 

Hypocrisy — simulation, dissimulation ; 
disguise, deceit, insincerity, false ap- 
pearance. See Cheat. 



334 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



IDLE — doing nothing, unemployed, unoc- 
cupied, inactive, leisure, vacant ; use- 
less, ineffectual, vain, frivolous, trifling ; 
unprofitable, barren, unfruitful. See 
Lazy, Vain, Trifling, Barren. 

Ignorant — not knowing, uninstructed, 
uninformed, untaught, unenlightened, 
unlearned, illiterate, unlettered ; unac- 
quainted, unapprised. See Barbarous, 
Wise. 

Ill — See Bad, Wicked, Sick, Malicious. 

Illness — indisposition, disease, malady, 
distemper, disorder, sickness; wicked- 
ness, iniquity. See Invalid, Sick. 

Ill-tempered — sour, morose, crabbed, 
peevish, petulant. See Cross, Fretful. 

Imaginary- — ideal, fancied, visionary, Uto- 
pian, not real. See Fanciful. 

Imitate — ape, mimic, mock, personate, 
feign, counterfeit. See Mimic. 

Immediately — instantly, presently, di- 
rectly, instanter. 

Immense — unlimited, unbounded, immeas- 
urable, infinite, boundless; vast, very 
great, huge, very large, prodigious, mon- 
strous. See End, without, Large. 

Immoderate — exceeding just or usual 
bounds, excessive, inordinate, intemper- 
ate, extravagant, unreasonable, egre- 
gious, unrestrained, unbounded, unlim- 
ited. See Immense. 

Impertinent — not pertaining to the mat- 
ter in hand, irrelevant; rude, impu- 
dent, intrusive, meddling, saucy, inso- 
lent; trifling, foolish. See Bold, Fool- 
ish, Officious, Impudence, Affronting. 

TMPORT — See Mean, Bear. 
MPORTANCE — consequence, weight, mo- 
ment, significance, significancy, avail. 
See Moment. 

Important — bearing on or to, weighty, 
momentous, of consequence, significant, 
consequential, material, essential, forci- 
ble, driving. See Crave, Constituent, 
Pressing. 

Importune — request with urgency, press, 
urge, tease. See Plague, Force. 

IMPRESS — imprint, stamp, print, mark; 
fix on the mind, inculcate, instil, 
infuse, ingraft, implant, engrave. See 
Mark. 

Improvement — advancement, progress, 
advantage, melioration, amendment, 
reformation, reform; edification, in- 
struction ; emendation, correction ; 
good use or employment, application. 



See Advancement, Better, Education, 
Civilization. 

Impudence: — shamelessness, immodesty, 
indelicacy, indecency ; assurance, effron- 
tery, boldness with contempt of others, 
audacity, hardihood, boldness, confi- 
dence, insolence, impertinence. See 
Audacity, Shameless, Impertinence. 

Inadequate — not equal to, insufficient, 
incompetent, incapable, unable, ineffi- 
cient, unequal, partial, incomplete, de- 
fective. See Equal, Able. 

Inanimate — not having life, lifeless, exan- 
imate, dead. See Flat, Dull, Dead, 
Lifeless. 

Incense— See Burn. 

Incline — See Lean. 

Incommode— put to inconvenience, give 
trouble to, molest, trouble, annoy, vex, 
harass, disturb. See Trouble. 

INCREASE — augmentation, addition, ac- 
cession, growing larger, enlargement, 
extension, aggrandizement, increment ; 
profit, interest ; progeny, issue, off- 
spring, produce. See Added, something, 
Larger, make or grow, Offspring. 

INCURSION— running into; inroad, irrup- 
tion, invasion, attack; expedition. See 
Attack, Battle, Kun. 

Indicate — See Show. 

Indifferent — neutral, careless, heedless, 
regardless, unconcerned. See Careless, 
Insensible. 

Individual — not divided or not to be 
divided, single, one, identical, par- 
ticular, separate, distinct, undivided, 
abstract. See Particular, Same, Sep- 
arate. 

Induce — bring on, produce, cause; per- 
suade, prevail on, influence, bias ; incite, 
move, instigate, actuate, impel; infer. 
See Invite, Lead, Move, Tempt. 

Infatuation — hallucin ation, stupefaction. 
See Intoxication, Destiny, Mistake. 

Infection — contamination, taint, pollu- 
tion, poison, vitiation, defilement ; con- 
tagion. See Pest, Plague. 

Inferior — lower, secondary, subordinate, 
subservient. See Servant. 

Infidel — unbeliever. See Heretic. 

Influence — flowing in, into, or on, power, 
credit, favor; control, direction. See 
Power, Lead. 

Ingenious — skillful, inventive, clever, 
imaginative, witty. See Intellectual, 
Sharp. 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



335 



fcTGRATLATE — insinuate, recommend, con- 
ciliate, propitiate. See Hint, Favor. 
NDHCAL — unfriendly, hostile, adverse : 
hurtful, contrary, opposite, repugnant. 
See Hurtful, Opposite. 
"niqutty — unrighteousness, injustice, ne- 
fariousness, sin. crime, wickedness, 
irreligion, profanity, impiety, depravity. 
See Injury, Depravity, Misdeed, Unjust. 
NJURE — hurt, wound ; wrong, impair, 
weaken, damage, make worse, deterio- 
rate, diminish, lessen : tarnish, slander, 
violate : grieve ; the form, disfigure, 
deform, deface. See Disfigure, Maim, 
Hurt, Abuse, Offend, Worse, make. 
KJURY — wrong, damage, loss, hurt, harm, 
mischief, detriment, outrage, deteriora- 
tion, injustice, evil, ill, unfairness, in- 
iquity ; insult, affront. See Hurt, In- 
iquity, Affront, Violation. 
^sensibility — want of sensibility, unf eel- 
ingness, apathy, indifference, insuscept- 
ibility, torpidity, coldness, callousness, 
unconcern, disregard, dullness, stupid- 
ity, torpor. See Feeling. Dryness. 

[NSENSIBLE — that can not be felt or per- 
ceived, imperceptible, insensate, apa- 
thetic, insusceptible, torpid, stupid, 
dull, foolish; indifferent, unconcerned, 
regardless. See Hardened, Foolish, 
Dull. 

INSTRUCT — teach, inform the mind, edify, 
educate; direct, enjoin, persuade, ad- 
monish, command, inform, advise, give 
notice to. See Guide, Show, Education, 
Authority, give, Enlighten, Build. 

Instrument — tool ; dupe, gudgeon. 

Insurrection — rising against civil or 
political authority, sedition, rebellion, 
revolt, rising, commotion, mutiny. See 
Tumult. 

Intellectual — mental, talented, gifted, 
clever, inventive, imaginative, ideal. 
See Ingenious. Spiritual, Hind. 

INTENSE — strained, stretched ; very close, 
raised to a high degree, violent, vehe- 
ment; very severe or keen, extreme; 
ardent, fervent.- See Hot, Zealous, 
Warm. 

Intention — stretching or bending of the 
mind toward an object, close application, 
earnestness ; design, purpose, purport, 
import, meaning, intent, intendment, 
view, aim, drift, end, object, scope. 
See Aim, End, Design, Mean, Mean- 
ing. 



Intercede — plead in favor of. R&>. Act 
between. 

Interchange — mutual change, exchange, 
commutation, permutation, barter, reci- 
procity. See Change, Commivnion, Trade. 

Interest — concern, regard, advantage, 
good benefit ; influence ; share, portion, 
part, participation : premium for the 
use of money. See Relate, Benefit, 
Care, Good, Part, 

Interpret — See Explain. 

Interrupt — break in upon, stop, hinder, 
disturb : interfere ; divide, separate, 
break continuity, rescind, disjoin, dis- 
connect. See Hinder, Prevent, Act be- 
tween. Separate, Order, put out of. 

Interview — mutual view or sight, meet- 
ing, conference, communication, oral 
discussion, consultation, convention, 
parley. See Calling together, Speech. 

Intimacy— close familiarity or friendship, 
fellowship, acquaintance, familiarity. 
See Acquaintance, Familiarity. 

Intoxication — drunkenness, inebriety, 
ebriety, inebriation, tipsiness ; inf araa- 
tion. See Drunk, Infatuation. 

Intricacy — perplexity, complexity, per- 
plexedness, complication, involution, 
entanglement, confusion : maze, laby- 
rinth, meander. See Confused. 

INTRICATE — entangled, involved, intwined, 
complicated, perplexed, complex. See 
Confused, Entangle. 

Intrigue— See Plot. 

Intrinsic — intrinsical, inward, internal, 
innate, true, genuine, real, essential, 
inherent. See Genuine, Constituent. 

Introduce — lead or bring in, usher in, 
present, prepare ; begin, open to notice ; 
preface, premise. See Begin, Preface. 

Introductory — serving to introduce, 
preparatory, initiatory, preliminary, 
prefatory, proemial, prelusive, prelusory, 
previous, antecedent, prefixed. See 
Going before, Preface. 

Intrude — thrust one's self in, obtrude, 
come, go in or enter uninvited or un- 
welcomed : unlaic fully, encroach, in- 
fringe, invade, intrench. See Go. 

Invalid — weak, feeble, of no force, weight, 
or cogency, infirm, debilitated, sick, 
unwell, ill, indisposed; in laic, having 
no force, effect, or efficacy, null, void :— 
Invalid, a person weak and infirm, 
sickly, or indisposed, valetudinarian. 
See Illness, Sick, Weak. 



336 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



INVENT — come on by making, find out by- 
making, devise, contrive ; fabricate, 
forge, feign: discover. See Contrive, 
Discover, Find out, Lie. 

Invest — clothe, dress, array, adorn ; 
clothe with office or authority, endow, 
endue, authorize ; inclose, surround, 
besiege. See Beautify, Authority, give, 
Endow, Compass, Surround. 

Invidious — looking on with an evil eye, 
envious, malignant, spiteful, rancorous, 
likely to incur ill-will or hatred, or pro- 
voke envy, offensive, provoking, irritat- 
ing. See Malicious, Affronting. 

Invite — bid, call, ask, summon; allure, 
draw to, attract, tempt to come. See 
Ask, Bid, Call, Induce. 

Inward — See Intrinsic. 

Issue — passing or flowing out, egress, out- 
let ; sending out ; event, consequence, 
effect, result, end, upshot; progeny, 
child or children. See Effect, End, 
Children, Offspring. 

Issue: — pass or flow out, emanate, spring, 
result, proceed, arise, emerge, flow, go 
out, rush out. 

JEALOUSY — suspicion, fear, apprehension, 
caution, vigilance ; rivalry, envy ; indig- 
nation. See Fear. 

Jest — gibe, jeer, sneer, scoff, mock, taunt ; 
joke, fun, trick, game, sport, ridicule, 
laughter, laughing-stock, sportiveness, 
facetiousness, jocularity. See Frolic, 
Sport, Mirth, Gibe. 

Jingle — clink, ring, rattle, jangle, clang ; 
crackle, decrepitate. See Sound. 

JOCULAR — jocose, waggish, merry, given 
to jesting, facetious; sportive, not se- 
rious. See Merry, Lively. 

Join— See Tie. 

Joint, out of— disjointed, dislocated, dis- 
membered, disunited; unconnected, in- 
coherent. 

Journey — See Excursion. 

Jovial — See Merry. 

Joy, to profess — congratulate, gratulate, 
felicitate; greet, compliment. See 
Kejoice. 

Joy, excessive — ecstacy, rapture, trans- 
port, exultation. See Pleasure. 

Judge — See Decider. 

JUDGMENT — discernment, penetration, dis- 
crimination, sagacity, intelligence, dis- 
cretion, prudence ; determination, de- 
cision, sentence, award, adjudication; 



opinion, notion. See Decree, Sense, 
Sharpness, Thought, Understanding, 
Rule. 

JUST — See Bight, BeasOnable. 

Justice — law, legality, right; equity, im- 
partiality; retribution; honesty, integ- 
rity. See Honesty, Correct, Unjust, 
Law. 

Keen — eager, vehement; sharp, severe, 
piercing, penetrating; bitter, acrimo- 
nious. See Severe, Sharp, Eagerness. 

KEEP- — hold^ detain, retain, possess, occu 
py, reserve ; preserve, save ; protect, 
defend, guard ; sustain, maintain, 
board, support ; tend, have the care of, 
feed, pasture ; practice, do, perform, 
observe, fulfill, obey ; back, reserve, 
retain, withhold ; in, conceal, restrain, 
curb ; from, abstain, refrain, restrain ; 
forbear, desist ; up, maintain, continue, 
hinder from ceasing. See Do, Occupy, 
Maintain, Leave, Abstain, Delay. 

Kill — deprive of life, murder, assassinate, 
slay, massacre, put to death, slaughter, 
butcher, destroy. See Destruction, Be- 
head, Waste. 

Kin — relation by birth, consanguinity, re- 
lation by marriage, affinity ; relatives, 
kindred ; kinsman, relation, relative. 
See Belationship. 

Kind — species, sort, class, genus; order, 
set, rank. See Sort, Character, Order. 

Kind — mild, tender, bland, indulgent; 
clement, gentle, compassionate, meek, 
benign, benignant, generous, benevolent, 
good ; courteous, civil, civilized, oblig- 
ing, complaisant, affable; gracious, 
lenient, humane. See Affectionate, 
Loving, Merciful, Obliging, Soft. 

Kindness — good-will, benevolence, benefi- 
cence, benignity, tenderness, humanity; 
generosity, liberality, goodness ; cour- 
tesy, politeness, urban^, civility, com- 
plaisance, affability, favor. See Boun 
ty, Charity, Affection, Mercy, Favor. 

King — See Majestic, Prince. 

Kingdom — realm, state, territory, country ; 
empire; nation, inhabitants or popula* 
tion ; in natural history, division ; 
region, tract; reign of the Messiah, 
heaven; government, rule, sovereignty, 
supreme administration. See Govern- 
ment, Dominion, Country. 

Kiss — touch with the lips, salute, embrace, 
touch gently, caress. See Embrace. 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



337 



Knit— See Tie. 

Knot— See Tie. 

Know — See Understand, Wise. 

Knowledge — learning, erudition, letters, 
science ; wisdom, skill ; acquaintance, 
notice ; information ; of all things, 
omniscience. See Learning, Foresight. 

Labor— See Work. 

Lament — See Grieve. 

Language — human speech, tongue, speech; 
dialect, idiom ; solecism ; phraseology, 
diction, expression. See Speech. 

Large — big, great, huge, of great size, 
spacious, wide, roomy, capacious, exten- 
sive, comprehensive, copious, ample, 
abundant, plentiful, diffusive, broad, 
extended, liberal. See Big, Immense, 
Abounding, Roomy, Great, Size. 

Larger, make — magnify, augment, en- 
large, increase, aggrandize, extend. See 
Great, make, Increase. 

LASTING — continuing, enduring, remain- 
ing; durable, permanent, diutumal ; 
inveterate. See Abide, Stay. 

Laugh at — ridicule, banter, rally, deride, 
mock, fleer, grin, leer, scoff, gibe, jeer. 
See Gibe, Scoff, Reproach. 

Laughable — exciting laughter or merri- 
ment, risible, ludicrous, ridiculous, 
comic, comical, sportive, odd, droll, 
burlesque, mirthful. See Jocular, 
Amusing, Odd, Ridicule. 

Lavish — prodigal, wasteful, wanton, pro- 
fuse, extravagant. See Waste, Spend, 
Extravagance, Expense. 

LAW — See Decree, Order, Command, 
Justice. 

LAY hold of— grasp, catch, snatch, seize, 
gripe, fasten on, clutch; open, open, 
make bare, uncover, show, expose, re- 
veal ; spread out, dilate, expand, ex- 
tend; down, deposit, resign, give up, 
quit, relinquish, surrender, offer, ad- 
vance; up, hoard, store, treasure, 
reposit, provide, previously ; out, ex- 
pend, plan, dispose in order, exert ; to, 
charge upon, impute, set to the account 
of, attribute. See Seize, Swell, Place, 
Catching, Show, Spread, Give, Count, 
Reckon, Accuse. 

Lazy — sluggish, indolent, slothful, idle, 
listless, inert, inactive, supine; slow. 
See Careless, Idle, Slow, Dull. 

Lead — guide, conduct, direct ; away, ab- 
duce, draw, entice, allure, attract, decoy, 



seduce; induce, persuade, prevail on, 
influence, bias, incline. See Induce, 
Guide, Tempt, Lean. 

LEAGUE — confederacy, alliance, national 
compact, covenant, truce, combination, 
coalition, union. See Alliance, Com- 
bine, Band. 

LEAN — wanting flesh, meager, not fat, 
thin, attenuated, wasted, emaciated ; 
not rich, destitute, bare, barren, jejune. 
See Bare, Thin. 

LEAN — incline, propend, tend toward, 
bend. See Bend. 

Learn — See Scholar, Hear. 

Learning — erudition, letters, science, lit- 
erature, acquired knowledge, art. See 
Knowledge. 

LEAVE — See Remains. 

Leave: — permission, allowance, license, 
liberty, consent, approval, assent ; a 
taking, farewell, valediction, adieu, 
parting. See Approbation, Let. 

LEAVE — withdraw, depart from, quit ; for- 
sake, desert, abandon, relinquish ; be- 
queath, give by will ; off, desist, with- 
hold, discontinue, refrain, forbear, hold, 
cease, stop ; out, omit, pass by, neglect. 
See Abandon, Give up, Ceasing, Keep, 
Abstain. 

Lessen — make less, diminish, reduce, de- 
crease, abate, liquidate; palliate, exten- 
uate; in value or tuorth, depreciate, 
undervalue, derogate, deteriorate, dis- 
parage, detract, decry, traduce, degrade, 
lower; become less, abate, decrease, 
diminish, shrink ; subside. See Lower, 
Gloss, Humble, Slacken, Allay. 

LET — See Hinderance. 

Let — permit, suffer, allow, give leave or 
power ; lease, demise ; retard, hinder, 
impede. See Allow, Leave, Hinder- 
ance. 

Lewd — See Lust, Loose. 

Liberty, being deprived of— restraint, 
confinement, imprisonment, incarcera- 
tion, captivity, bondage, thralldom, 
slavery, servitude, enslavement. See 
Custody, Privilege, Freedom, Confine. 

Lie or Lean — See Lean. 

Lie — falsehood, untruth, mendacity, fab- 
rication, fiction, fib, invention. See 
Falsehood. 

LiEE — vitality, liveliness, sprightliness, 
vivacity, vivaciousness, animation, spir- 
it. See Lightness of manner, Spirit, 
Warmth, Animate. 



29 



338 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



Lifeless — deprived of life, dead, destitute 
of life, inanimate, exanimate ; heavy, 
dull, inactive, vapid ; torpid. See 
Dead, Dull, Inanimate, Plat. 

Lift — elevate, raise, erect, exalt, elate. 
See Heighten. * 

Light — See Enlighten. 

Lightness of manner — levity, giddiness, 
gayety, unsteadiness, inconstancy, 
changeableness, mutability, vanity, 
freak, flightiness, volatility, buoyancy, 
elasticity, animation, vivacity, vivacious- 
ness ; wantonness, lewdness, unchastity. 
See Life, Whim, Changeable, Loose. 

Like — alike, identical, equal, similar, uni- 
form, resembling ; probable, likely. See 
Equal, Same. 

Likeness — resemblance, similarity, form, 
external appearance ; similitude, simile ; 
representation, copy, counterpart ; im- 
age, picture, effigy, statue, See Com- 
parison, Effigy, Example, Appearance. 

Limit — See Bound. 

Limited — bounded, finite, terminable, de- 
terminate, circumscribed, restrained, 
confined, restricted; qualified, narrow. 
See Definite, Narrow, Bound. 

Line — See Mark. 

Linking together — connection, concatena- 
tion, succession, consecution, chain, 
train, series. See Follow, Chain. 

Listen— See Hear. 

Livelihood — means of living, support of 
life, living, subsistence, maintenance, 
sustenance, sustentation, support. See 
Food, Living. 

Lively — brisk, vigorous, vivacious, ani- 
mated, spirited, sprightly, sportive, 
blithe, merry, cheerful, mirthful, jocund, 
gay, airy ; humorous, facetious, witty, 
jocular, jocose ; strong, energetic. See 
Active, Gay, Merry, Jocular, Quick, 
Spirit. 

Living, ecclesiastical — benefice, vicarage, 
parsonage, rectory ; incumbency ; pre- 
ferment, endowment. See Livelihood. 

Living in the same age with another — 
coeval, of the same age, of equal age, 
coetaneous ; at the same time, contem- 
porary or cotemporary, contempora- 
neous, coexistent. See Time. 

Load — See Burden. 

Lofty— /S^<? High, Great. 

Loiter — linger, move slowly or idly, lag, 
stay behind, delay, be dilatory, spend 
time idly, saunter. See Delay. 



Lonely — solitary, retired, sequestered, 
secluded, ascetic, lone, lonesome, unfre- 
quented, deserted, dull, gloomy. See 
Dull, Alone, Desolate. 

LOOK — See Appearance. 

LOOK — see, behold, view, eye, glance, 
peep, observe ; appear, seem ; face, 
front ; after, attend, tend, take care of ; 
for, expect, seek, search ; into, inspect, 
observe, examine, consider ; on, regard, 
esteem, consider, view, conceive of, 
think, be a mere spectator. See Glance, 
Appear, Search, Care. 

Looker-on — beholder, spectator, observer. 

LOOSE — unbound, untied, unsewed ; not 
tight or close, not dense or compact; 
not concise, lax, not precise or exact, 
vague, indeterminate, remiss ; uncon- 
nected, rambling; dissolute, saturna- 
lian,wanton, lewd, lustful, unrestrained, 
unchaste, licentious, lax. See Aban- 
doned, Lust, Careless, Lightness. 

Lop— See Cut off, Maim. 

Lord — See Master. 

Lord's Supper — communion, sacrament, 
eucharist. 

Loss — damage, detriment. See Injury, 
Hurt. 

Lot— See Chance, Clergy. 

LOUD — having a great sound, high-sound- 
ing, altisonant, obstreperous, streper- 
ous, noisy, clamorous, vociferous, vehe- 
ment, turbulent, tumultuous, bluster- 
ing; emphatical, impressive. See Tu- 
multuous, Noise. 

LOVE— See Affection. 

Love, inclined to — amorous, fond, doting, 
loving ; in love, enamored, smitten ; 
relating to, amatory, amatorial, amato 
rious. See Loving. 

Lover — one who loves, wooer, sweetheart, 
suitor, beau, swain ; amateur. 

Loving — enamored, amorous ; fond, affec- 
tionate, attached. See Affectionate, 
Kind. 

Low — not high, humble ; deep ; dejected, 
depressed ; mean, abject, grovelling, 
base, dishonorable; feeble, weak, ex- 
hausted ; moderate ; plain, simple, as 
diet. See Humble, Grave, Weak, Flat, 
Faint. 

LOWER — cause to descend, let down, take 
or bring down, reduce, humble, dis- 
grace, humiliate, degrade, debase, abase, 
depress. See Humble, Abase, Lessen, 
Damp. 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



339 



Lowliness — freedom from pride, humility, 
humbleness, self-abasement, modesty, 
unworthiness, penitence, submission, 
submissivenesss. See Humble. 

Lowness of spirits — dejection, depres- 
sion, despondency, melancholy, hypo- 
chondria, low-spiritedness ; in rank or 
state, buruiliation, degradation, debase- 
ment, abasement, reduction. See De- 
spair, Disgrace. 

Luck — See Chance. 

Lucky — fortunate, successful, prosperous, 
favorable. See Fortunate. 

Lure — See Tempt, Induce, Entangle. 

LUST — longing desire, desire, passion, con- 
cupiscence, lusting, carnal appetite, un- 
lawful desire, lasciviousness, salacious- 
ness, salacity, lecherousness, lechery, 
lubricity, incontinence, incontinency, 
unchastity, evil propensity, depraved 
affections and desires. See Desire, 
Loose. 

LUSTY — fat, corpulent, stout, robust, vig- 
orous, healthful, able of body; bulky, 
large. See Fatness, Strong. 

Luxury — free or extravagant indulgence 
in the pleasures of the table, voluptu- 
ousness, sensuality ; epicurism, sensual 
enjoyments; dainty, delicious food oi" 
drink; any thing delightful to the 
senses. See Glut, Drunk, Pleasure, 
Feast. 

Machine— See Instrument. 

Mad— See Foolish. 

Madness — disorder of the intellect or rea- 
son, distraction, derangement, insanity, 
insaneness, lunacy, delirium, mania, 
phrenzy or frenzy, franticness, mental 
aberration : extreme folly, headstrong 
passion and rashness ; wildness of pas- 
sion, rage, fury. See Folly, Possession, 
Rage. 

Malm — deprive of the use of a limb, lame, 
cripple, mangle, mutilate, injure, hurt. 
See Mangle, Cut off, Injure, Hurt. 

Maintain — assert, vindicate. See Keep, 
Support. 

MAJESTIC — august, stately, dignified, mag- 
nificent, grand, splendid, pompous, ele- 
vated, lofty ; princely, royal, regal, 
kingly, noble ; magisterial. See Grand, 
High, Great. 

MAKE — constrain, compel ; form, fashion, 
mold, contrive, cause to exist, produce, 
create, compose, constitute, construct, 



establish; do, perform, execute, effect, 
cause; raise, gain, collect; over, trans- 
fer, convey, assign, alienate ; out, learn, 
discover, obtain, prove, evince, find or 
supply. See Force, Form, Contrive, Do. 

Malice — extreme enmity, rancor, malevo- 
lence, malignity, malignancy, grudge, 
spite, pique, iil-will. See Enmity, Ha- 
tred, Envy, Spite. 

MALICIOUS — harboring ill-will or enmity, 
malevolent, malignant, malign, evil- 
minded, evil, wicked, fiendish, fiend-like, 
diabolical, infernal, hellish, stygian, 
devilish, spiteful. See Hateful, Invidi- 
ous, Wicked. 

Mangle — lacerate, tear, rend, mutilate, 
maim. See Maim, Worry. 

Manner — See Appearance, System, Way. 

Manners — morals, habits; behavior. See 
Custom, Behavior, Civility. 

Many — manifold, multiform, several, di- 
vers, sundry, various, numerous. 

Margin — See Brink. Edge. 

MARK — line, incision, impression, print, 
stamp ; note, sign, symptom, indication, 
token ; trace, vestige, footstep, foot- 
print, track ; of disgrace, brand, stig- 
ma, badge. See Character, Emblem. 

MARK — draw a visible line, stamp, impress, 
print, imprint ; note, notice, observe, 
remark ; heed, attend, regard. See Im- 
press, Hear, Denote. 

Market— See Trade. 

Marrlvge — matrimony, wedlock ; nup- 
tials, wedding; relating to, connubial, 
conjugal, matrimonial, nuptial, hyme- 
neal, hymenean. See Espoused, Rela- 
tionship. 

Majitial — warlike, military, soldier-like, 
brave, given to war ; suited to battle. 

Mask — See Cloak. 

Mass — See Medley. 

Master — possessor, proprietor, owner ; 
ruler, director, governor, head, chief, 
principal, superior, controller, lord ; 
teacher, tutor, instructor, preceptor, 
professor. See Chief, Scholar. 

Maxim — See Aphorism. 

Maze — See Intricacy. 

MEAN — wanting dignity, low, vulgar, low 
minded, base, spiritless, contemptible, 
despicable ; of little value, humble, poor ; 
sordid, miserly, penurious, niggardly. 
See Low, Gross, Contemptible, Poor, 
Saving, Sneaking, Miserly, Sorry. 

Mean— have in mind or view, intend, 



340 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



purpose, design, contemplate; signify, 
indicate, express, imply, import, denote. 
See Design, Denote, Betoken. 

Meaning — signification, significance, im- 
port, sense, intendment, intention, ten- 
dency, aim, purpose, See Intention, 
Aim, Sense. 

Means, instrument of effecting any 
purpose — -income, revenue, resources, 
substance, estate ; organ ; that offer ', 
expedient, alternative, resource, me- 
dium ; moyen. See Choice, Medium, 
Way. 

Mechanic — artisan, artist, artificer, oper- 
ative, workman, journeyman. 

Meditate— See Think. 

Medium — middle, mean ; mediocrity, mod- 
erateness, moderation, temperateness, 
temperance. See Way, Means, Mildness. 

Medley — mingled and confused mass, 
mixture, confusion, mass, hotchpotch, 
heterogeneousness, diversity, variety, 
miscellany. 

Meet — fit, prepared, suitable, proper, 
qualified, convenient, adapted. See Fit. 

Meet — come together, come face to face, 
confront, encounter, come in contact, 
join: come to, find, light on, receive; 
assemble, congregate, collect, concen- 
trate, group, muster, embody. See Call 
together. Collection, Crowd, Find. 

Melancholy— See Sad, Doleful. 

MEMOIR — personal history, life, personal 
narrative or chronicle, history, narra- 
tive, narration, chronicle, written ac- 
count, register of facts, recital. See 
Chronicle, Story, History. 

Mercenary — that may be hired or sold, 
venal, hireling, hired, purchased, sold; 
greedy of gain, mean, selfish. See Mean. 

Merchandise — See Goods, Trade, Buy. 

MERCIFUL — having or exercising mercy, 
clement, compassionate, humane, ten- 
der, lenient, benign, benignant, indul- 
gent, not cruel, pitiful. See Mildness, 
Kind. 

Mercy — See Grace. 

MERCY — grace ; benevolence, tenderness, 
mildness, pity or compassion, or clem- 
ency exercised toward offenders ; clem- 
ency, lenity, leniency, humanity, be- 
nignity, compassion, pity. See Kind- 
ness, Pity, Mildness. 

Merry" — gay and noisy, jovial, exhilarated, 
cheerful, mirthful, joyful, sprightly, joy- 
ous, lively, gay, vivacious, blithe, blithe- 



some, jocund, sportive, festive, conviv- 
ial, social, sociable. See Convivial, 
Lively, Glad, Gay, Jocular, Cheerful- 
ness. 

Message — verbal or written notice sent, 
errand, mission, commission, embassy, 
dispatch, communication, mandate, or- 
der. See Order, Command. 

MILD— See Kind, Merciful. 

Mildness — softness, gentleness, suavity, 
placidity, blandness, tenderness, mercy, 
clemency ; moderateness. See Mercy, 
Kindness, Peace, Medium. 

Mimic — imitator, buffoon, zany, merry- 
andrew, jester, mountebank, fool. See 
Fool, Blockhead, Coxcomb, Imitate. 

Mind— See Intellectual, Thoughtful. 

Mingle— See Mix. 

Minister — chief servant, agent, officer, 
official, magistrate, delegate, embassa- 
dor, envoy, pastor. See Clergyman, 
Servant, Assist. 

Mirth — social merriment, hilarity, noisy 
gayety, jollity, jolliness, jocoseness, 
jocularity, jocundity, jocundness, fes- 
tivity, joviality, conviviality, sociality, 
sociability ; joy, gladness, cheerfulness. 
See Cheerfulness, Joy, Pleasure, Jest, 
Sport. 

Miscarriage — failure, mishap ; ill conduct, 
evil or improper behavior, misbehavior ; 
abortion, untimely birth. See Misdeed, 
Behavior. 

Misdeed — evil deed, wicked action, fault, 
transgression, trespass, offense, misbe- 
havior, crime. See Miscarriage, Fault, 
Iniquity. 

Miser — extremely covetous person, sordid 
wretch, avaricious fellow, very parsimo- 
nious creature, curmudgeon, niggard, 
churl. See Money. 

Miserly — very covetous, avaricious, sor- 
did, niggardly, narrow, parsimonious, 
mean, churlish, curmudgeonly. See 
Mean, Narrow. 

Misfortune— ill-fortune, ill-luck, advers- 
ity, calamity, disaster, affliction, dis- 
tress, mischance, evil or cross accident, 
mishap, misadventure. See Trouble, 
Fortune. 

Mistake: — error, misconception, misunder- 
standing ; slip, hallucination, fault ; ac- 
cident. See Fault, Oversight, Deceive. 

Misuse — ill-use, use ill or improperly, use 
to a bad purpose, wrong, injure ; abuse, 
treat ill. See Abuse, Injure. 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



341 



Mix—See Medley. 

Mob — See Crowd. 

Mock — See Laugh at. 

Modest — restrained by a sense of propri- 
ety, not forward or bold, not presump- 
tuous or arrogant, not boastful, bashful, 
diffident, reserved ; not loose, not lewd, 
chaste, pure, vestal, virtuous ; moderate, 
not excessive or extreme, not extrava- 
gant. See Pure, Chasteness, Shameless, 
Loose. 

Moist— See Soak. 

Moment — second, instant ; importance, 
etc. See Importance, Transitory. 

Money — coin, stamped metal, gold, silver, 
copper, cash; specie, bank notes or 
bills, finance, exchequer. 

Morals — See Manners. 

MORTAL — subject to death, destined to 
die ; deadly, fatal, causing death, bring- 
ing death ; human, terrestrial, earthly, 
mundane ; perishable, fleeting, evanes- 
cent. See Deadly, Transitory. 

Mount— See Go. 

Mourn — See Grieve. 

Mouth— See Speech. 

Move— See Go, Stir. 

MOVE — impel, carry, convey, draw ; excite, 
affect, touch pathetically, agitate, rouse, 
incite, instigate, prompt, stir, actuate, 
urge, persuade, induce, prevail on. See 
Induce, Animate, Stir, Shake, Awaken, 
Go. 

Move round — revolve, circumvolve, turn, 

circumgyrate, circulate; wheel, whirl, 

• twirl, twist, reel. See Twist, Surround. 

Much, too — excess, exuberance. See Ex- 
cess, Luxuriance. 

Murder— See Kill. 

Mutual — See Eeturn like for like. 

NAKED — not covered, bare, nude, uncov- 
ered, unclothed, undressed; unarmed, 
defenseless, open, exposed; plain, evi- 
dent, undisguised. See Bare, Open. 

NAME — appellation, appellative, title, de- 
nomination, designation ; reputation, 
repute, character, credit, estimation ; 
renown, fame, honor, celebrity, emi- 
nence, praise, distinction; remem- 
brance, memory; authority, behalf, 
part ; appearance only, sound only, not 
reality. See Fame, Praise. 

NAME — call, give name to, denominate, 
entitle, characterize, style, term, desig- 
nate, nominate. See Call. 



Narrow— of little breadth, not wide or 
broad, strait, confined, limited, con- 
tracted, covetous, not liberal or bounti- 
ful ; close, near, accurate, scrutinizing. 
See Miserly, Limited. 

NATURAL — implanted by nature, inborn, 
innate, ingenerate, inbred; inherent; 
native, indigenous. See Born. 

Nausea — sea-sickness, sickness, qualm, 
loathing, disgust, squeamishness. See 
Disgust, Sick. 

Near — See Neighborhood, Narrow. 

Necessary— that must be, that can not be 
otherwise, essential, indispensable, re 
quisite, needful, fit; expedient, desira- 
ble ; wanted, required ; unavoidable. 
See Fit, Constituent. 

NECESSITY — what must be; irresistible 
power, compulsive force; want, need, 
occasion, requirement, indispensable- 
ness ; 'extreme indigence, pinching pov- 
erty, pressing need, distress, exigency, 
emergency ; unavoidableness, inevitabie- 
ness. See Destin3 r , Poorness, Want, 
Occasion, Trouble, Obligation. 

Need — See Necessity. 

Needle— See Sharp. 

Neglect — omission, forbearance to do, 
inadvertence, oversight ; negligence, in- 
attention, carelessness, disregard, re- 
missness, indifference, recklessness, 
apathy, unconcern. See Oversight, 
Apathy. 

Neglect — omit; forbear to do or use; 
slight, contemn, disregard, not to notice. 
See Despise, Shun. 

Neighborhood — a place near, vicinity, 
vicinage, proximity, adjacency. See 
Near, Nigh. 

Nerve— See Strong. 

Net — See Snare. 

NEWS — tidings, recent account, fresh in 
formation, intelligence. 

Nice — soft, delicate, tender, dainty, fine, 
sweet, delicious ; accurate, exact, pre- 
cise, methodical, correct, particular, 
scrupulous, distinguishing. See Dainty, 
Correct, Squeamish, Luxury. 

Nigh — See Neighborhood. 

Night — See Darkness. 

Noble — See Generous, Great. 

Nobdlity — noblesse, noblemen, nobles, 
aristocracy, oligarchy, barons, patri- 
cians, lords, peers, grandees, optimacy ; 
dignity, grandeur. See Grand, Great- 
ness, Government. 



342 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



NOISE — See Sound, Jingle. 

Noise — sound, murmur, creak ; cry, outcry, 
clamor, vociferation. See Cry, Loud. 

Nomenclature — list or catalogue of 
words, vocabulary, schedule, etc. See 
Dictionary, Catalogue. 

Noted — set down in writing; observed, 
noticed, notorious ; remarkable, con- 
spicuous, eminent, famous, celebrated, 
distinguished, renowned, illustrious, ex- 
traordinary. See Famous. 

Notice — observe, see, regard, attend, 
heed, mind, remark, mention, mark, 
note. See Mark, Perceive, Hear. 

Nourish — nurture, cherish, foster, sup- 
port, maintain, encourage ; educate, 
instruct. See Support, Foster. 

Novice— See Ignorant. 

Numb — benumbed, deprived of sensation, 
torpid, chill, motionless, stupefied. 

Number — See Count. 

Obedient — disposed to obey, submissive, 
obsequious, complaint, humble, tract- 
able, docile, dutiful, respectful. See 
Humble. 

Object — oppose, except to, gainsay, deny, 
controvert, dissent. See Oppose, Gain- 
say, Cavil, Aim, Refuse. 

Obligation — duty ; compulsion, force, co- 
ercion, necessity. See Debt, Necessity, 
Force. 

Oblige — obligate, engage, constrain, com- 
pel, bind, do a favor to, favor, serve, 
assist, please, gratify. See Force, 
Please, Assist. 

Obliging — binding, constraining, com- 
pelling; kind, complaisant, courteous, 
civil, affable. See Kind, Amiable, Offi- 
cious. 

Oblique — See Crooked. 

Obstacle — what opposes, what stands in 
the way, obstruction, hinderance, let, 
impediment. See Difficulty, Hinder- 
ance, Let. 

Obstinacy — fixedness in opinion or reso- 
lution, stubbornness, pertinacity, per- 
sistence, persistency, inflexibility, con- 
tumacy, perverseness, refractoriness, i?i- 
tractableness, obdurateness, obduracy. 

Obstinate — fixed in opinion or resolution, 
stubborn, inflexible, refractory, contu- 
macious, pertinacious, perverse, obdu- 
rate, unyielding, resolute, opiniated, 
headstrong, heady. See Crooked, Un- 
willing, Averse. 



OCCASION — falling, happening or coming 
to, occurrence, casualty, incident ; op- 
portunity, convenience, favorable time, 
season or circumstances ; incidental 
need, casual exigency, necessity, need. 
See Cause, Necessity, Chance. 

OCCUPY — take possession ; keep in posses- 
sion, possess, hold or keep for use : take 
up, cover or fill ; employ, use ; maintain ; 
invest. See Keep, Maintain, Possession. 

Odd — not even or equal ; singular, extra- 
ordinary, strange, eccentric, irregular, 
anomalous, particular, uncommon ; fan- 
tastic, fantastical, whimsical, comic, 
comical, droll, queer, ludicrous, funny, 
laughable, burlesque. See Amusing, 
Fanciful, Laughable, Eccentric. 

Ode— See Sing. 

Offend — disj)lease, make angry, affront, 
vex, insult, mortify, shock, wound ; 
pain, annoy, injure; transgress, tres- 
pass, violate. See Displease, Affront, 
Injure. 

Offender — one who offends, violator, 
transgressor, trespasser, criminal, male- 
factor, felon ; culprit, delinquent, de- 
faulter. See Crime. 

Offer — bring in the way, bring to or be- 
fore, present, proffer, give, bestow, ex- 
hibit, tender ; sacrifice, immolate ; bid, 
propose. See Give, Kill, Bid. 

Offering — sacrifice, oblation ; presenta- 
tion, tender ; a burnt, holocaust. 

Office — duty, charge, trust, function, 
place, post, situation, station, rank, 
business, employment, occupation, 
agency. See State, Situation. 

OFFICIOUS — kind, obliging ; excessively 
forward in kindness ; active, busy med- 
dling, intermeddling, intrusive, imper- 
tinent, importunate. See Obliging, 
Active, Impertinent, 

Offspring — child or children, descendant 
or descendants, progeny, young, issue ; 
propagation, generation ; production 
See Children, Issue, Increase. 

Often — oft, frequently, many times, not 
seldom, not rarely, repeatedly, con- 
stantly, continually. 

Ointment— See Perfume. 

Old — advanced far in years or life, aged ; 
decayed, not new or fresh ; ancient, an- 
tique, olden ; elderly, senile ; antiquated, 
old-fashioned, obsolete. See Ancient, 
Ancestor. 

Omen— See Foretell. 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



343 



One — See Alone. 

Onset — rushing or setting upon, violent 
attack, attack, charge, assault, encoun- 
ter, storming. See Attack, Battle. 

Open — See Spread. 

Open and free — ingenuous, frank, fair, 
candid, sincere, free from reserve, dis- 
guise, equivocation or dissimulation, 
unreserved, undisguised, undissembling, 
artless; communicative. See Free, 
Fair, Art, without, Clear. 

Opening — breach, gap, aperture, cleft, 
rent, crack, crevice, fissure, cranny, 
chink, slit, chasm ; cavity, cave, cavern, 
grotto, den ; orifice, hole, perforation, 
bore, pore ; avenue, passage, way, en- 
trance, dawn, first appearance or visi- 
bleness. See Gap, Way. 

Operation — working, process, agency, 
action, effect ; manipulation ; movement. 
See Work, Proceeding, Effect. 

Opinion — sentiment, idea, notion, judg- 
ment, settled persuasion. See Thought, 
Judgment, Conceit. 

Oppose — put or set against, act against, 
resist, withstand, combat, oppugn, con- 
trovert, gainsay, contradict, deny, ob- 
ject to. except to. See Hinder, Gain- 
say, Object, Refuse. 

OPPOSITE — See Cross, Inimical. 

Ordain — set, settle, establish, institute, 
constitute, appoint, decree, order, pre- 
scribe ; adjudge, adjudicate. See Fix, 
Appoint, Destiny, Form, 

Order — regular disposition or methodical 
arrangement, regularity, rule, method, 
system, settled mode; rank, degree, 
class, division, species ; series, succes- 
sion, consecution, consecutivenesss ; re- 
ligious fraternity; regular government 
or discipline. See Command, Decree, 
Arrangement, Order, System, Discipline, 
Kind, Course, Formality, Message. 

Order — regulate, methodize, put in order, 
systemize, adjust, dispose, digest, class, 
classify, range, rank, arrange ; direct, 
command. See Command, Class. 

Order, put out of — disorder, break order, 
derange, confuse, disarrange, disturb, 
perplex, confound, displace, unsettle, 
ruffle, discompose, interrupt; change 
the, invert ; reverse. See Unsettle, Dis- 
figure, Interrupt, Confused. 

Orderly — regular, methodical, systemat- 
ic ; well-regulated, not tumultuous ; not 
unruly, peaceable. See Regular. 



Origin — first existence, original, com- 
mencement, beginning, rise, source, 
first cause, fountain-head, descent; 
grounds, foundation, base, basis; rudi- 
ments, elements ; primitive, etymon, 
etymology. See Begin, Cause, Rise. 

Outrage— See Affront. 

Outward — outer, external, exterior, ex- 
trinsic, adventitious ; extraneous ; in 
theology, carnal, fleshly, corporeal, not 
spiritual. See Abroad. 

Outweigh — exceed in weight, overbalance, 
preponderate; exceed in value, influ- 
ence, or importance. See Go. 

OVERBEAR — bear down, overpower, sub- 
due, oppress, overwhelm, suppress. See 
Conquer, Overcome. 

OVERCOME — conquer, vanquish, subdue, 
subjugate, overpower, suppress; sur- 
mount, get the better of. See Beat, 
Defeat, Overbear. 

Overflow — flow over, inundate, cover 
with waters, deluge, overwhelm, cover. 
See Flow, Overbear, Water. 

Overrule — influence or control by pre- 
dominant power, dispense with, super- 
sede, annul, reject. See Annul, Refuse. 

Oversight — superintendence, watchful 
care, supervision, inspection ; mistake, 
overlooking, omission, error, inadver- 
tence, inattention, slight, accident. See 
Care, Mistake, Neglect. 

OWN — acknowledge, avow, confess, not to 
deny, admit, recognize. See Recognize, 
Profess, Allow. 

PACE— step, gait, stride ; amble. See Step. 

PAIN — uneasy sensation, uneasiness, dis- 
tress, suffering; anguish, agony, tor- 
ture, pang, torment ; disquietude, anxi- 
ety, solicitude, grief, sorrow, remorse. 
compunction ; pains, labor, work, toil. 
See Grief, Trouble, Bear, Repentance, 
Work. 

PAINT — form a figure or likeness in colors, 
depict, represent, delineate, color, be- 
smear, sketch, describe. See Color, 
Stain. 

Palace — See House. 

Palate— See Taste. 

PALE — white or whitish, fair, wan, cadav- 
erous, pallid, ghastly, deficient in color, 
not ruddy ; not bright, not shining, dim. 
See Dull, Ghastly. 

PALPITATE— beat gently, beat, flutter, pant, 
heave, gasp. See Beat, Flutter, 



344 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



Parch— See Burn, Hot. 

Pardon — See Forgive. 

Part — portion, piece, fragment, share, 
division, section, species, sort, class, 
member; concern, interest; side, party, 
faction ; parts, qualities, powers, facul- 
ties, accomplishments; quarters, re- 
gions, districts. See Party, Interest, 
Rate, District. 

PART — divide, parcel, separate, break, 
sever, disunite. See Separate, Cut off. 

Particular — not general, individual, dis- 
tinct, single, minute ; special, especial, 
peculiar, exclusive, specific, principal, 
chief ; odd, singular. See Correct, Odd. 

Party — See Company, Paction, Plot. 

Party — faction, clique, set, cabal, junto ; 
side, company. See Company, Faction, 
Plot. 

Paps— See G-o, Way. 

Passed or Pdsrced, not to be — impassable, 
impenetrable, impervious. 

Passionate — irrascible, choleric, angry, 
irritable, hasty, impetuous; highly ex- 
cited, vehement, warm ; animated. See 
Angry, Hasty, Hot. 

PASSIVE — suffering, enduring, patient, re- 
signed ; submissive, unresisting, not 
opposing, quiescent; unmoved, unpro- 
voked. See Sufferance, Peaceable. 

Pattern — See Copy, Example. 

Pause — make a short stop, stop, cease, in- 
termit, delay, wait, forbear ; in uncer- 
tainty, demur, hesitate, deliberate, 
waver, fluctuate. See Delay, Waver. 

Pawn— See Pledge. 

Pay — compensation, recompense, reward, 
remuneration, equivalent, wages, sal- 
ary, allowance, stipend, hire. See 
Amends. 

PEACE — quiet, tranquility, calm, calmness, 
quietness, ease, repose, rest, peaceful- 
ness, serenity, stillness, peaceableness, 
mildness. See Quiet, Mildness, Calm, 
Concord. 

Peaceable — tranquil, quiet, undisturbed, 
unagitated, calm, serene, peaceful, mild, 
still, pacific. See Calm, Passive. 

Peculiar — See Particular. 

Peer — See Nobility, Equal. 

Peevish— See Fretful. 

Penalty— See Fine. 

Pencil — See Paint. 

Perceive — See See. 

Perceive — know by the senses, feel, see, 
discern, distinguish, know, understand, 



notice, regard, observe. See Distin- 
guish, Notice, Espy. 

PERFECT — bring to perfection, complete, 
finish, consummate, fulfill, accomplish, 
achieve. See Finish, Bring about, Ac- 
complish. 

Performance — execution, completion, 
doing, action, act, deed, thing done ; 
composition, written book; of some 
note, exploit, achievement, feat, heroic 
act, deed of renown, great or noble 
achievement. See Accomplishment, 
Production, Work, Thing done. 

Perfume— See Smell. 

PERISH — die, lose life, expire ; wither, 
fade, decay, waste away, pine, See Die, 
Dead, Wasting. 

Perplex — See Entangle, Worry. 

PEST — plague, pestilence, epidemic, infec- 
tion, bane, worrying, nuisance, annoy- 
ance. See Infection. 

Petition — request, supplication, prayer, 
suit, entreaty, solicitation. See Beg, 
Entreaty. 

Phi: — See Heap. 

Pious— See Godly. 

Pith— See Strength. 

Pitiable — exciting pity, piteous, pitiful, 
miserable, doleful, woeful, rueful. See 
Doleful, Unhappy. 

PiTY — commiseration, compassion, fellow- 
suffering, sympatic condolence, mercy, 
humanity. See Feeling, Mercy. 

PLACE — spot, site, position, situation, sta- 
tion ; rank, order ; seat, residence, 
mansion; office, employment; calling, 
occupation, condition ; ground, room, 
stead; portion. See Office, Situation. 

PLACE — put, set, lay, locate, posit, de- 
posit, reposit; appoint, induct, estab- 
lish, fix ; invest, lend. See Order, Fix, 
Lay. 

Plague— See Pest. 

Plague — infest with disease, etc. ; vex, 
tease, harass, trouble, embarrass, an- 
noy, molest, torment, torture, tantalize, 
importune. See Worry, Weaiy, Impor- 
tune. 

Plain— See Clear. 

Plan — draught, form; scheme, project, 
design, device, contrivance, stratagem. 
See Design, Invent, Plot. 

PLEASURE — joy, delight, gratification, 
luxury, enjoyment, comfort, delectation, 
agreeable sensations or emotions ; will, 
choice, purpose, intention, command* 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



345 



favor. See Enjoyment, Gratitude, Joy, 
Mirth, Satisfaction, Luxury, Sport. 
Pleasure, one given to — voluptuary, epi- 
cure, sensualist. See Luxury. 
Pledge — pawn, surety, hostage, security, 
mortgage, caution. See Security. 

Pledge — See Answerable for. 

Plenty— #66 Enough. 

PLOT — conspiracy, intrigue, confederacy, 
combination, cabal, junto, party clique, 
set, coalition ; device, machination, 
contrivance, scheme, stratagem. See 
Design, Contrive, Party, Plan, Combine. 

Plow— See Till. 

Plunder — pillage, rapine, prey, booty, 
spoil; ruin, ravage, waste. See Rapa- 
cious, Waste. 

Poison— See Deadly. 

Polish— See Beautify. 

Polite — polished, refined, well-bred, ele- 
gant, graceful; courteous, complaisant, 
obliging, civil, urbane, affable, genteel, 
deferential. See Genteel, Awkward, 
Becoming. 

Politeness — polish or elegance of man- 
ners, gentility, good breeding, good 
manners, refinement, civility, courteous- 
ness, courtesy, urbanity, affability, 
complaisance, obliging attentions. See 
Civility, Attention. 

Pomp — splendid procession, magnificence, 
parade, splendor, grandeur, state. See 
Procession, Show, Grand. 

POOR — needy, indigent, destitute, necessi- 
tous, distressed ; barren, mean, jejune ; 
depressed, low, dejected; in spirit, 
humble, contrite, abased in one's own 
sight by a sense of guilt. See Bare, 
Barren, Mean, Sorry. 

Poorness — destitution, indigence, pov- 
erty, want, need, distress, necessity, 
exigency ; meanness, lowness ; barren- 
ness, sterility. See Necessity, Want. 

PoprY— See Sleep. 

Pore — See Opening. 

Porter — See Bear. 

Portion— See Part. 

Positive — set, laid down, expressed, direct, 
explicit; absolute, real, express, per- 
emptory, arbitrary, despotic, dogmati- 
cal, confident. See Actual, Arbitrary, 
Flat. 

POSSESSION — occupancy, occupation, ten- 
ure, tenancy; thing possessed, land, 
estate, goods, etc. ; madness, lunacy, 
See Occupy, Goods, Madness. 



Pour— See Melt, Flow. 
Power — ability, strength, potency, force, 
energy, capacity, capability, puissance, 
cogency, efficacy, efficaciousness, effi- 
ciency ; influence : command, rule, 
sway, authority, right of governing, 
dominion, domination, ascendancy ; 
royal, royalty, scepter, crown. See 
Ability, Force, Influence, Dominion, 
Gift. 

POWER, want of— inability, disability, im- 
potence, impotency, weakness, inca- 
pacity, inefficacy, inefficiency, insuffi- 
ciency, inadequacy, incompetency, im- 
becility. See Weakness. 

Powerful — mighty, potent, strong, puis- 
sant, forcible, efficacious, influential, 
cogent, energetic, vehement, emphatic, 
intense. See Effect, producing, Pre- 
vailing, Strong, Able, Almighty. 

Praise — commendation, approbation, ap- 
plause, encomium, eulogy, panegyric. 
See Approbation, Name. 

Praise — commend, approve, applaud, laud, 
extol, magnify, glorify, eulogize, pan- 
egyrize, do honor to. See Great, make. 

Praiseworthy — deserving praise, com- 
mendable, laudable, approved. 

Pratlle— See Talk. 

Pray— See Beg, Entreat, Entreaty, Peti 
tion. 

Preceft — command, rule, doctrine, max- 
im, principle. See Command, Order. 

Preface — introduction, proem, prelim- 
inary, prelude. See Introductory, In- 
troduce. 

Present— See Gift, Reward, Give. 

Preserve— See Keep, Free. 

Press — See Embrace, Force. 

Pressing — urging with force or weight, 
squeezing, constraining, crowding, em- 
bracing, distressing, forcing; urgent, 
importunate, emergent. See Impor- 
tant, Squeeze. 

PRETENSFi — false appearance, pretext, ex- 
cuse, delusion, imposture. See Color, 
Defense, Cloak. 

Pretty— See Beautiful. 

Prevailing — gaining advantage, superior- 
ity or victory, having effect, persuading, 
succeeding ; predominant, prevalent, 
superior in power, efficacious; most 
general, epidemic, epidemical. See 
Powerful. 

Prevent — go before, precede, anticipate ; 
hinder, obstruct, intercept, impede, ob- 



346 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



viate, preclude. See Anticipate, Go, 
Hinder, Interrupt. 

Prey — See Plunder. 

Price — See Value, Sell. 

Prick— See Stir. 

Pride — inordinate self-esteem, self-con- 
ceit, conceit, arrogance, haughtiness, 
hauteur, presumption, assumption, in- 
solence, vanity ; splendid show, ostenta- 
tion. See Conceit, Proud, Show. 

Priest — See Ecclesiastic. 

Prince — sovereign, monarch, potentate, 
king, emperor, chief, ruler. 

Priority — precedence, preference, pre- 
eminence. See Going before. 

Prison— See Liberty, being deprived of. 

Private— See Secret. 

Privilege— immunity, exemption; bene- 
fit, advantage, favor, prerogative, right, 
claim, liberty. ' See Freedom, Benefit. 

Proceeding — process, procedure, move- 
ment, course, progress, progression; 
affair, matter, concern, transaction, 
suit, measure, step. See Course, Oper- 
ation, Go. 

Procession — cavalcade, triumph, ovation ; 
train, retinue, suite. See Pomp, Victory. 

Proclaim — See Publish. 

Produce— See Beget. 

Production — that which is produced, 
produce, product ; performance, com- 
position, work. See Performance, Off- 
spring. 

Profess — make open declaration of, avow, 
acknowledge, declare, asseverate. See 
Declare, Own. 

Profit— See Gain. 

Profitable — yielding or bringing profit 
or gain, gainful, lucrative; beneficial, 
useful, advantageous. See Gain, Use. 

Project— See Plan, Design. 

Promiscuous — mingled, mixed, confused, 
undistinguished, indiscriminate, com- 
mon. See Mixed, Confused, Common. 

PROMISE— binding declaration, assurance, 
guarantee, engagement, undertaking. 
See Warrant. 

PROOF — trial, essay, experiment, test; 
demonstration, conviction, satisfaction ; 
testimony, attestation, evidence, certifi- 
cation ; firmness, hardness, impenetra- 
bility. See Evidence, Trial. 

Property — quality, attribute ; wealth, 
possessions, paraphernalia. See Qual- 
ity, Goods, Riches. 

Prophesy— See Foretell. 



PROROGUE — protract, prolong, defer, ad 
journ, delay, postpone. See Delay. 

Prosper — favor, render successful ; be 
successful, succeed ; grow, increase, 
thrive, make gain. See Gain, Favor, 
Increase, Flourish, Happiness. 

Protect— cover, shield, defend, guard, 
preserve, secure, support, harbor, shel- 
ter, foster, cherish, countenance, pat 
ronize, encourage, sanction. See Cover- 
ing, Defend, Harbor, Foster, Encourage. 

Protection, place for— asylum, sanctu- 
ary; shelter, defense, refuge, retreat. 
See Defense, Security. 

PROUD — having inordinate self-esteem, 
self-conceited, conceited, vain, arrogant, 
haughty, supercilious, assuming, inso- 
lent; daring, presumptuous; grand, 
lofty, splendid, magnificent, ostenta- 
tious. See High, Grand, Pride. 

PROVE — try, test ; evince, establish, ascer- 
tain, verify, demonstrate, manifest; 
certify, attest, evidence. See Proof, 
Evidence. 

Provide — procure beforehand, get, fur 
nish, supply. See Give. 

Prudent— See Wise. 

Prune— See Cut off. 

Prying — inspecting closely, inquisitive, 
scrutinizing, searching, curious. See 
Search. 

Public, Publish— See Common. 

Publish — make known, divulge, disclose, 
promulgate, proclaim, discover, expose, 
declare, reveal, impart, communicate. 
See Discover, Public, Declare, Spread, 
Utter, Blaze. 

Puff — See Swell. 

Pull — See Draw, Tear. 

Punish — See Discipline, Fine. 

Purge— See Clean. 

Purse— See Money. 

Push— See Drive. 

Put— See Place. 

Put down — baffle, repress, crush, quell, 
suppress, subdue, reduce, restrain ; de^ 
grade, deprive, depose ; confute, silence. 
See Baffle, Check, Delay. 

Puzzle — perplex, embarrass, put to a 
stand, gravel, confound; bewilder, en- 
tangle. See Cross, Entangle, Worry. 

Quack — empiric, charlatan, mountebank. 
Quake— See Shake, Fear. 
Qualification — endowment, acquirement; 
legal or requisite power; modification, 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



347 



restriction, limitation. See Accomplish- 
ment, Endow. 

Qualify — fit for, furnish with ; moderate, 
modulate, temper, humor, restrain, 
limit, modify, regulate. See Bound, 
Fit. 

Quality— See Property. 

Quarrel — wrangle, scold, petty fight, 
scuffle, dispute, contest, contention, 
brawl, broil, jar, jangle, altercation, 
tumult, feud, fray, affray, variance, dif- 
ference, disagreement, breach. See 
Difference, Disagreement, Tumult, In- 
surrection. 

QUARRELIKG— contention, dispute, dispu- 
tation, caviling, discord, dissension, 
strife, faction, controversy, altercation, 
wrangling, debate, variance, difference, 
disagreement. See Difference, Quarrel, 
Faction. 

Question — See Ask, Search. 

Quick — alive, living ; swift, hasty ; speedy, 
prompt, expeditious, ready; active, 
nimble, agile, brisk, vigorous, lively, 
vivacious. See Hasty, Active, Lively, 
Ready, Sharp. 

Quicken — make alive, vivify, revive, resus- 
citate; hasten, accelerate, expedite, 
dispatch, sharpen, stimulate, incite; 
cheer, reinvigorate. See Cheer, Ani- 
mate, Hasten. 

QUICKNESS — speed, velocity, swiftness, ce- 
lerity, fleetness, rapidity, rapidness, 
nimbleness, briskness, alertness; expe- 
dition, dispatch; activity, promptness, 
agility, dexterity; acuteness, keen sen- 
sibility; sharpness, pungency; of in- 
tellect, acuteness, sharpness, sagacity, 
penetration, acumen, shrewdness. See 
Briskness, Sharpness, Eagerness. 

QUIET — rest, repose, stillness, peace, ease, 
tranquility, calm, quietness. See Peace, 
Ease, Still, Silence, Subside. 

Quote— See Adduce. 

RACE — running, rapid course or motion, 
course, progress, movement; breed; 
lineage, family, house, descent; stock, 
dynasty, generation. See Course, Stock, 
House, Breed, 

RAGE— violent anger, passion, fury, ex- 
citement, extreme violence ; enthusiasm; 
extreme eagerness or passion. See 
Madness, Anger, Boil. 

Raise— See Lift. 

RAMBLE — rove, wander, stroll, range, walk, 



ride or sail at random. See Excursion, 
Stray, Go, Wander. 

Rank— See Order. 

RAPACIOUS — given to plunder, seizing by 
force, greedy on seizing, ravenous, vora- 
cious, greedy, devouring. See Plunder, 
Greediness. 

RARE — uncommon, nob frequent, scarce, 
singular, choice, precious, usually ex- 
cellent, incomparable, unique ; thin, 
porous, not dense ; nearly raw, imper- 
fectly roasted or boiled. See Uncom- 
mon, Thin. 

RASH— See Foolhardy. 

Rashness — temerity, precipitance, pre- 
cipitancy, precipitation, hastiness. See 
Hasty. 

RATE — proportion, standard, ratio, quota, 
degree ; price, amount ; tax, sum. See 
Tax, Value, Count, Part. 

Rave — See Madness. 

Raw— See Rare. 

Ray— See Beam. 

Read— See Collect. 

Ready — quick, apt, prompt, not hesitat- 
ing; acute; expert, dexterous; pre- 
pared, fitted; willing, free, cheerful, 
disposed ; being at the point, near, not 
distant ; easy, facile, opportune, short. 
See Quick, Active, Clever, Free, Sharp, 
Briskness. 

REASONABLE — rational, equitable, just, 
fair ; not immoderate, moderate, toler- 
able, not excessive. See Fair, Just. 

Rebellious — seditious, mutinous. See 
Tumultuous. 

Recall — revoke, repeal. See Call back. 

Recalled, Regained or Remeddsd, not 
to be — irrevocable, irretrievable, irre- 
versible, irrecoverable, irreparable, in- 
curable, irremediable. See Call back, 
Recover. 

Receipt — act of receiving, acceptance, 
acceptation, reception ; discharge, ac- 
quittance; recipe, prescript, prescrip- 
tion. See Take, Pay. 

RECKON — count, number, compute, calcu- 
late, estimate ; esteem, account, repute. 
See Count, Pay. 

Recognize — remember, notice, recollect. 
See Own, Mark. 

RECOVER — get or obtain what was lost, 
regain, retrieve ; restore, repair, recruit. 
See Recalled, not to be, Redeem. 

REDEEM — purchase back, ransom, liberate, 
relieve, rescue, affranchise, manumit, 



348 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



recover, deliver from, save ; compen- 
sate, make amends for. See Free, Buy, 
Recover. 
REDRESS — relief, remedy, deliverance from 
wrong, injury or oppression; repara- 
tion. See Cure. 

Redundant— See Abounding. 

Refer — relate, regard, respect; appeal, 
apply; allude, glance at, hint; direct; 
reduce. See Relate, Appeal, Hint, Ap- 
ply, Consult. 

Refresh — cool, allay heat ; reinvigorate, 
give new strength to, revive, renovate, 
renew. See Cool, Animate. 

Refuge— See Protection. 

REFUSE — reject, deny, decline, oppose, 
repel, rebuff, object. See Object, Op- 
pose, Overrule, Remains. 

Regard— See Respect, Interest. 

Regular — See Rule. 

Regular — conformed to a rule, methodi- 
cal, systematic, orderly, exact, periodi- 
cal. See Orderly, Formal. 

Reign — See G-overn. 

Rejoice — make joyful, gladden, exhilarate; 
exult, joy; gratulate, congratulate, fe- 
licitate. See Joy, Gladden. 

RELATE — tell, recite, rehearse, repeat, 
narrate, recount, recapitulate, detail, 
enumerate ; refer, concern, respect, re- 
gard, appertain, interest, affect. See 
Tell, Explain, Describe, Refer. 

Relationship — kindred, relation, alli- 
ance ; affinity, consanguinity. See Kin, 
Marriage. 

Religion — godliness, piety, devotion, sanc- 
tity ; system of faith and worship. See 
Holiness. 

Rematn — See Dwell. 

Remains — that which is left, leavings, 
raspings, scrapings, relics, remnant, re- 
mainder, residue, refuse, scoria, dross; 
dead body, corpse, carcass. See Dregs. 

Remark — notice, observation, annotation, 
note, comment, commentary. See Ex- 
planation, Comment. 

Remember — See Recognize. 

Renown — See Fame. 

Repeat— See Seek, 

Repentance — sorrow, pain, grief, regret, 
penitence, contrition, compunction, re- 
morse. See Pain, Grief. 

Report— See Fame. 

Reply, smart or witty — repartee, retort. 

REPROACH — censure, find fault with, chide, 
reprove, upbraid, cast in the teeth, 



scold, rail, brawl, rate. See Blame, 
Abuse, Disgrace, Gibe. 

Respect— regard, attention, deference, 
consideration, esteem, estimation, hon 
or; veneration, reverence. See Refer, 
Honor. 

Respect — hold in respect or estimation, 
esteem, value, regard, relate to; ven 
erate, revere, reverence. See Refer, 
Value, Honor. 

Rest — See Ceasing. 

Restoring or Returning, the act 0/— 
restoration, rendition, restitution, retri 
bution. See Amends. 

Return of like for like— retaliation, re. 
quital, reciprocation, reciprocity, mu 
tuality, alternation. See Each, Other. 

REWARD — remuneration, recompense, 
compensation, requital, satisfaction, 
amends, guerdon ; bribe ; punishment. 
See Amends, Satisfaction, Gift. 

Riches — wealth, opulence, affluence, pos- 
sessions, mammon, substance. See 
Possession, Fortune. 

Ridicule — contemptuous laughter, deri- 
sion, burlesque ; satire, irony, sarcasm. 
See Censure, Laughable. 

Right— straight ; just, equitable, fair, 
honest ; fit, proper, suitable, becoming ; 
lawful ; true ; correct ; not left. See 
Fair, Fit, Correct. 

Rigid— See Severe. 

Ring — See Surround, Jingle. 

Rise— See Go, Issue, Origin. 

RrrE— See Form. 

River— See Water. 

Road— See Way. 

Roll — See Catalogue. 

ROOM — space, compass, extent, place, 
stead ; apartment, chamber. See Place. 

ROOMY — spacious, large, wide, capacious. 
See Large, Immense. 

ROT — putrefy, corrupt, decay. See Cor- 
rupt. 

Rotten — putrid, putrefied, carious, de- 
cayed, corrupt; unsound, defective, 
treacherous, deceitful; fetid, stinking, 
rancid, ill-smelling. See Corrupt, De 
ceitful. 

Rouse— See Stir. 

Rude — See Barbarous, Impertinent. 

Rule — See Precept, Order, Decree. 

Run — See Course. 

Sacred— See Holy. 

Sad — sorrowful, melancholy, mournful, 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



349 



dull, downcast, dejected, depressed, 
cheerless, doleful, trist, gloomy. See 
Dull, Doleful, Mourn, Cast down. 

Safe— See Sure. 

SALUTE — salutation, greeting. See Kiss. 

SAME — See Equal, One, Individual. 

Sanction — See Fix, Ordain. 

Satisfaction — contentment, repose of 
mind; conviction; pleasure, gratifica- 
tion; amends, recompense, compensa- 
tion, indemnification, atonement ; pay- 
ment, discharge. See Pleasure, Re- 
ward, Amends. 

Satisfy — suffice, content, gratify, please; 
pay to content, recompense, indemnify ; 
free from doubt, suspense, or uncer- 
tainty ; convince ; pay, discharge. See 
Amends, make, Pay. 

Saucy— See Fretful. 

Save— See Free, Redeem. 

Saving — preserving, sparing, frugal, not 
lavish, economical, thrifty, parsimo- 
nious, excepting. See Mean. 

Saw— See Cut. 

Say— See Speech, Tell, Aphorism. 

Scale: — See Climb. 

Scarce — See Rare. 

Scarcity — scarceness, deficiency, penury, 
dearth, famine ; rareness, infrequency. 
See Want. 

Scatter — See Spread, Dispel. 

Scent — See Smell. 

SCHOLAR — learner, pupil, disciple, tyro; 
man of letters, doctor. See Follower, 
Master. 

Science — See Knowledge. 

Scoff— See Laugh at, Disdain. 

Scope — See Aim. 

Scroll — See Catalogue. 

Scruple— See Doubt. 

Sculpture— See Carve. 

Sea — ocean, main, deep, wave, billow, 
surge. See Wave. 

Seaman — seafarer, sailor, mariner, tar, 
marine, sea-soldier ; sea-robber, pirate, 
sea-freebooter. 

Search — seeking, looking for, scrutiny, 
investigation, inquiry, examination, re- 
search, rummage, quest, inquest, pur- 
suit. See Prying. 

SEARCH — look over or through, explore, 
rummage, examine, scrutinize, investi- 
gate, inquire, seek for, probe, pry. See 
Look. 

SECRET — hid, hidden, concealed, clandes- 
tine* unrevealed, occult, unseen, private, 



unknown, secluded, latent, mysterious, 
mystic. See Hide. 

Sect — See Heretic. 

Security — protection, guard, defense, 
palladium, guarantee, fence, safety, cer- 
tainty, deposit, pledge, mortgage. See 
G-uard, Sure, Protection, Pledge. 

Sediment — See Dregs. 

See — See Look. 

Seek — See Look. 

Seize— See Take, Catching. 

Sell — See Buy, Merchandise, Trade. 

Send — throw, cast, thrust, impel, drive, 
cause to go or pass, commission ; atvay, 
dismiss, discard, discharge, dispatch, 
cause to depart ; forth or out, produce, 
put or bring forth, emit, exhale ; on a 
special commission, depute, delegate. 
See Cast, Throw. 

Sense — sensation, perception, apprehen- 
sion, discernment, judgment, faculty, 
intellect, reason, understanding ; con- 
sciousness, conviction ; meaning, im- 
port, signification. See Feeling, Judg- 
ment, Understanding, Meaning. 

Separate — divided from, disjoined, dis- 
connected, unconnected, not united, 
distinct, different, detached, disunited, 
apart, asunder. See Part, Individual, 
Unlike. 

Separate — disunite, divide, sever, part, 
sunder, disconnect, detach, disjoin, dis- 
engage. See Part, Cut off, Distinguish, 
Interrupt. 

Serene— See Calm. 

Sermon — See Speech, Dissertation. 

Servant— See Minister. 

Servant — one who serves, domestic, me 
nial, drudge ; help, assistant ; in Scrip- 
ture, slave, bondman, one used as an 
instrument. See Minister, Inferior, 
Instrument. 

Set — See Fix, Appoint. 

Set apart — dedicate, devote ; consecrate, 
hallow, sanctify. See Apply. 

Settle — make permanent, fix, establish, 
determine, corroborate, confirm ; many; 
adjust, compose, tranquilize ; regulate, 
arrange ; colonize ; liquidate, balance 
or pay. See Fix, Found, Still, Pay. 

SEVERE — rigid, harsh, stern, austere, not 
mild or indulgent, strict, hard, rigor- 
ous ; grave, sober, sedate ; afflictive, 
distressing, sharp, violent; biting, ex- 
treme ; exact, critical, nice. See Rigid, 
Sharp, Difficult, Grave. 



350 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



Shade— See Darkness, Dull. 

Shake — agitate, move, tremble, shudder, 
shiver, quiver, quake, totter. See Move, 
Trembling. 

Shame — See Disgrace. 

Shameful — what brings shame or dis- 
grace, scandalous, disgraceful, infamous, 
opprobrious, ignominious, injurious to 
reputation. See Disgrace. 

Shameless — destitute of shame, wanting 
modesty, impudent, brazen-faced, im- 
modest, audacious, insensible to dis- 
grace; indecent, indelicate. See Im- 
pudence, Modest. 

Shape— See Form. 

Share — See Part. 

Sharp — keen, acute, not blunt, not ob- 
tuse; discerning, penetrating, saga- 
cious, shrewd, quick, witty, ingenious ; 
sour, acid, piercing, shrill; severe, 
harsh, rigid, cruel, biting, sarcastic, 
taunting, satirical ; fierce, ardent, fiery, 
violent ; keen, severe, pungent, painful, 
pricking, piquant. See Keen, Quick, 
Active, Severe, Ready. 

Sharpness — keenness, acidity, sourness, 
acrimony, pungency, painfullness ; acute- 
ness, penetration, shrewdness, sagacity, 
discernment, quickness, ingenuity ; 
keenness, edge, severity. See Sour- 
ness, Quickness, Judgment, Edge. 

Shield — See Covering. 

Shift— change, turning; expedient, re- 
source, refuge, alternative ; fraud, arti- 
fice, chicane, evasion, subterfuge, trick, 
turn. See Cheat, Trick. 

Shine— See Light. 

Shine — emit rays of light, radiate, give 
light, beam, glitter, coruscate, glisten, 
gleam, glare, sparkle. See Gleam, 
Blaze, Bright. 

Shoot— See Sprout, Bud. 

Shore — See Brink, Edge. 

Shorter, made — shortened, abridged, 
abbreviated, epitomized, condensed, con- 
tracted, curtailed, lessened, diminished. 
See Brief, Abridgment. 

Shout— See Call. 

Show — spectacle, exhibition, sight, repre- 
sentation ; ostentation, parade, display, 
array, pomp*; appearance, semblance, 
seeming, speciousness, plausibility. See 
Pomp, Appearance, Color. 

Show — exhibit, present, display ; make to 
know, direct, point out, indicate, mani- 
fest, prove, inform, instruct, teach, 



explain ; disclose, discover, bestow, con- 
fer, afford. See Instruct, Discover, 
Declare, Direction. 

Showy — making a great show, ostenta- 
tious, splendid, fine, gay, gaudy, glaring, 
pompous, sumptuous, grand, magnifi- 
cent, stately. See Cay, Grand, Vain. 

Shudder— See Shake, Fear. 

Shuffle — prevaricate, equivocate, evade, 
quibble, cavil, sophisticate. 

Shun — avoid, keep clear of, eschew ; evade, 
escape, elude; decline, neglect. See 
Neglect. 

Shut — See Close, Surround. 

Shy — fearful of near approach, coy, re- 
served, not familiar; cautious, wary, 
careful ; suspicious, jealous. See Care- 
ful, Jealousy. 

Sick — sickly, ill, diseased, morbid; dis- 
gusted. See Illness, Invalid. 

Side — See Edge. 

Sift — See Separate, Judge. 

Sight— See See, Look. 

Sign— See Mark. 

Silence: — taciturnity; stillness, calmness, 
quiet, calm, repose, cessation ; dumb- 
ness, muteness. See Calm, Quiet, Still 

Silent— See Calm, Dumb. 

Silver— See Money. 

Simple— See Bare. 

Sin — See Wicked, Crime, Violation, Debt, 
Depravity. 

Sincere — real, unfeigned, genuine, true, 
honest, undissembling, upright, uncor- 
rupt ; unvarnished, plain ; frank. See 
Genuine, Honesty. 

Single — See Alone, Particular. 

Situation — position, seat, location, site, 
state, condition, predicament, plight, 
case; place, office. See Place, Condi- 
tion, State, Office. 

Size — bulk, bigness, magnitude, great- 
ness, extent. See Bigness, Fatness. 
Greatness. 

Skill — See Ability. 

Skin— See Flay. 

Slacken — slack, make less tense, tight or 
severe, relax, remit ; mitigate, diminish, 
abate, lower, relieve, unbend. See 
Lessen, Lower. 

Slander — defamation, detraction, scan- 
dal, calumny, backbiting, aspersion ; dis- 
grace," reproach, disreputation, ill-name. 
See Disgrace, Contumely, Asperse. 

Slaughter — massacre, carnage, murder, 
ing, butchery. See Destruction, Kill. 



APPENDIX II.— ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



351 



Slave— See Liberty, being deprived of. 

Sleep— See Doze. 

SLEEPY — drowsy, lethargic, inclined to 
sleep ; causing or inducing sleep, sopo- 
rific, soporiferous, narcotic, opiate, dor- 
mitive, somnific, somniferous, anodyne, 
sedative, composing. See Doze. 

Slender — See Thin. 

Slip — See Deceive, Mistake. 

SLOW — tardy, dilatory, sluggish, tedious. 
See Lazy, Dull. 

SLY — cunning, deceitful, artful, insidious, 
crafty, wily, circumventive, subtle, sub- 
tile. See Cunning, Deceitful. 

Smell — See Sweet-smelling. 

Smooth— See Soft, Beautify. 

Snaee — See Serpent. 

Snare: — See Entangle. 

Snarling — growling, grumbling angrily, 
cynical, snappish, waspish. 

Snatch— See Seize. 

Sneaking — creeping away slily, stealing 
away ; crouching, cringing, servile, ob- 
sequious, mean, pitiful: meanly, parsi- 
monious, covetous, niggardly. See 
Mean, Miserly. 

SOAK — steep, imbrue, macerate, imbue, 
wet, moisten, drench. 

SOBER — temperate ; steady, serious, sol- 
emn, grave. See Abstaining, Grave. 

SOFT — easily yielding to pressure, easily 
to be bent or led, flexible, supple, lithe, 
limber, flaccid, pliant, yielding, ductile, 
pliable, compliant, tractable, docile ; 
malleable ; gentle, mild, meek, kind, 
civil ; smooth, flowing ; easy, quiet. See 
Kind, Dainty, Allay, Ease, Weak. 

Soil — See Stain. 

Sole— See Alone. 

Solemn— See Grave. 

Solid — hard, firm, compact, stable, strong, 
massive ; real, substantial, sound, valid, 
true, just; entire, whole. See Firm, 
Strong, Thick. 

Solitary— living alone, desolate. See 
Alone, Desolate, Lonely. 

Sophistry — fallacious reasoning, chicane, 
chicanery, sophism, fallacy. See False- 
hood. 

SORRY — grieved, pained, afflicted, affected, 
hurt, mortified, vexed, chagrined ; poor, 
mean, vile, worthless. See Mean, Poor, 
Grieve. 

SORT — See Kind, Character. 

Soul — See Spirit, Mind. 

Sound — See Jingle, Bound back. 



Sound — See Whole. 

Sour— See Sharp. 

Sourness — acidity, acidness, tartness, 
sharpness ; of manner ', asperity, harsh- 
ness, acrimony. See Sharpness. 

Source— See Origin. 

Sparing — See Saving. 

Speak— See Tell. 

Speak to — accost, address; with, talk, 
converse, discourse, commune. See 
Talk, Utter, Unspeakable. 

Speech — language ; oration, philippic, 
harangue, address, discourse ; solecism. 
See Language, Speech, Talk, Interview. 

Spend — lay out, dispose of, part with ; ex- 
pend, consume, waste, squander, ex- 
haust, drain ; pass ; harass, fatigue. 
See Expensive, Waste. 

Spirit — See Life, Lively, Active. 

Spiritual — immaterial, incorporeal ; men- 
tal, intellectual ; sacred, ecclesiastical ; 
ethereal, ghostly; godly, holy. See In- 
tellectual, Godly, Holy. 

Spite — hatred, spleen, rancor, malice, 
malignity, malevolence, gall; grudge, 
pique. See Malice, Hatred, Enmity, 
Envy. 

Spleen— /S^ Spite. 

Spoil — See Plunder. 

Spoke— See Beam. 

SPORT — what diverts and makes merry, 
play, game, diversion, fun, drollery, 
frolic, waggery, waggishness; pastime, 
recreation ; amusement, entertainment ; 
mock, mockery, contemptuous mirth; 
diversion of the field, as fowling, hunt- 
ing, fishing. See Mirth, Jest, Frolic, 
Pleasure, Amusing, Lively. 

SPOT — See Stain, Blemish, Blameless. 

Spread abroad — scatter, disperse, dis- 
tribute, diffuse, dispense, circulate, prop- 
agate, divulge, publish, disseminate; 
out, open, expand, unfold, unfurl. See 
Dispel, Publish, Open, Lay, Swell, Un- 
fold. 

Spring — See Issue. 

Sprout— See Bud. 

Spur — See Stir. 

Spurious — not genuine, counterfeit, sup- 
posititious, false, fictitious, deceitful, 
adulterate ; illegitimate, bastard. See 
Genuine, not, Bastard, Vain, Law. 

Spurn — See Despise. 

Squeamish — fastidious, over-nice, over- 
scrupulous. See Nice. 

Squeeze— press, gripe; oppress, harass, 



352 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



crush; hug, embrace closely; out, ex- 
tort, express, extract. See Compress, 
Press. 

Stable— See Strong. 

Stagger — walk unsteadily, reel, totter, 
vacillate ; fail ; hesitate. See Doubt, 
Wave, Stammer. 

Stain — discolor, maculate, blot, spot, foul, 
soil, pollute, blemish, sully, tarnish, 
taint; dye, tinge. See Blot, Blemish, 
Corrupt, Disgrace, Color. 

Stain, without — immaculate, pure, spot- 
less, untainted, innocent, unstained, 
unblemished, unpolluted, irreproach- 
able, unsullied, untarnished. See Dis- 
grace, Harmless. 

Stammer — stutter, falter, hesitate in 
speaking. See Stagger. 

Stamp — character. See Mark. 

Stand— See Stay. 

State — in life, condition, circumstances, 
situation, station ; political body, or 
body politic, body of men ; rank, post, 
degree, quality, dignity, grandeur. See 
Condition, Situation, Order, Grand. 

Statue— See Stand. 

STAY — remain, continue, abide ; endure, 
last; wait, attend; rest, rely, confide 
in, trust ; stop, restrain, withhold, de- 
lay, obstruct, hinder. See Abide, Dwell, 
Delay, Hinder. 

Step — See Go, Pace, Mark. 

Stick — See Follower, Attachment. 

Stipe — See Formal. 

Still — stop, check, restrain, calm, allay, 
assuage, lull, pacify, compose, appease, 
quiet; silence, suppress, subdue. See 
Settle, Calm, Ease, Peace, Allay, Silence. 

Stink— See Rotten. 

Stir — move, agitate; up, incite, insti- 
gate, prompt, excite, raise, animate, 
stimulate, provoke, rouse, begin, quick- 
en, enliven, disturb. See Move, Ani- 
mate, Awaken, Agitation, Anger. 

STOCK — stem, body ; family, lineage ; 
fund, capital, store, magazine, supply, 
accumulation, hoard, provision ; live 
stock, as cattle or sheep. See Body, 
House, Race, Goods, Lay. 

STOP — See Hinder. 

Store — See Stock. 

STORY — tale, narration, narrative, history, 
memoir, recital, relation ; fiction, fable ; 
incident, anecdote; floor, loft. See 
Memoir, History, Chronicle, Falsehood. 

Strange— See Odd, Outward, 



Stratagem— See Plan, Trick. 

STRAY — wander, deviate, err, swerve, rove, 
ramble. See Ramble, Wander. 

STREAM — current, course, tide ; river, riv- 
ulet, brook, streamlet, rill ; drift. See 
Course. 

Strength— See Strong, Power. 

Strengthen — make strong or stronger, 
fortify, invigorate, animate, encourage; 
enforce ; establish, confirm, corroborate 
See Encourage, Animate, Strong. 

Strict — See Severe. 

Stripe — See Quarrel. 

Strhce — See Beat. 

Strong — powerful, vigorous, robust, stout, 
sturdy, hardy, firm, solid, sinewy, mus- 
cular, able ; mighty, potent, cogent, 
forcible, efficacious ; ardent, eager, 
zealous ; violent, vehement, earnest ; 
bright, glaring, vivid. See Powerful, 
Firm, Solid, Able, Lusty, Bright, Zeal- 
ous. 

Study— See Think, Attention. 

Struggle— See Unwilling. 

Stupid— See Blockhead. 

Subject — placed or situate under; ex- 
posed, liable, obnoxious; prone, dis- 
posed. See Accountable. 

Subside— sink or fall to the bottom, set- 
tle; abate, intermit, assuage, allay, be- 
come tranquil. See Calm, Ease, Quiet, 
Settle. 

Success— See Prosper, Lucky. 

Suckle— See Nourish. 

Sudden — without notice, abrupt, unex 
pected, unlooked for, unanticipated; 
emergent. See Abrupt. 

Suffer— undergo, feel or bear pain, en- 
dure, support, sustain ; allow, tolerate, 
permit. See Support, Allow. 

Sufferance — bearing, endurance, pa- 
tience, moderation ; toleration, permis- 
sion, suffering, allowance. See Bear, 
Suffer, Allow, Passive. 

SUITABLE — fitting, accordant, agreeable, 
conformable, adapted, convenient, be- 
fitting, proper, becoming, adequate. 
See Agreeable, Becoming, Fit. 

Superficial — being on the surface ; shal 
low, flimsy, not deep or profound, slight, 
cursory, desultory. 

SUPPORT — bear, sustain, uphold, stay, 
prop, second, forward, assist, counte- 
nance, favor, patronize, promote, en 
courage, nurture, nourish, cherish, 
foster; maintain, protect, shield, de- 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



353 



fend ; verify, make good, substantiate, 
vindicate. See Bear, Suffer, Assist, 
Stay, Favor, Encourage, Nourish, Fos- 
ter, Protect. 

Sure — certain, unfailing, infallible, indu- 
bitable ; safe, secure, firm. See Certain, 
Doubted, not to be, Firm, Security. 

SURROUND — encompass, compass, environ, 
inclose on all sides; inclose, encircle, 
invest, besiege. 

Survey— See Look. 

Swallow up — take into the stomach; 
engulf, absorb, engross, engage wholly ; 
imbibe, exhaust, consume, devour. See 
Engross. 

Sweet — See Amiable. 

Sweet-smelling — odoriferous, odorous, 
fragrant, perfumed, sweet-scented, am- 
brosial. 

Swell out — dilate, distend, expand, ex- 
tend. See Lay, Spread. 

Swift— See Quick. 

Swing — See Stagger. 

System — method, order, mode, manner. 
See Manner, Order, Formality. 

Take — receive, accept ; from, deprive of, 
deduct, subtract ; detract, derogate ; to 
or upon one's self, appropriate, assume, 
adopt, undertake : arrogate, usurp. See 
Seize, Embrace, Catching. 

Talent— See Ability. 

Talk— See Speak. 

TALK — converse, speak, confer, discourse, 
commune, hold intercourse, chat, con- 
fabulate. See Speak. 

TALK — converse, conversation, colloquy, 
dialogue, discourse, conference, confab- 
ulation, chat. See Speech, Hearsay. 

Talkative — speaking much, loquacious, 
garrulous. 

TAME — Sec Overcome. 

Tart — See Sour. 

TASTE — gustation, savor, relish, flavor, 
palate ; judgment, genius, discernment, 
perception, sensibility. See Palate, 
Flafc, Judgment. 

TAX — impost, tribute, duty, contribution, 
custom, toll, rate, sum imposed, assess- 
ment ; burden ; charge, censure ; task. 
See Custom, Rate. 

Teach — See Instruct. 

Tease — See Trouble, Incommode. 

Tell — See Relate, Declare. 

TEMPER — See Abstaining, Cool, Cross, Ill- 
tempered, Sourness, Qualify. 



TEMPT — allure, entice, attract, solicit, in- 
cite, provoke, decoy, seduce, inveigle, 
coax, persuade, induce, draw ; in Scrip- 
ture, try, prove, put to trial for proof. 
See Allure, Induce, Lead, Try. 

Tend— See Lean. 

Terrify— frighten, appal, alarm, intimi- 
date, dismay. See Fright, Fear. 

Test — criterion; standard; trial. See 
Trial. 

Thick — dense, not thin, compact, close, 
solid ; gross, coarse ; turbid, muddy, 
feculent ; inspissated ; frequent ; make 
thick, incrassate; consolidate. See 
Dense, Close, Solid, Gross. 

Thin — rare, attenuated, not dense, not 
close ; slim, small, slender, lean, meager, 
slight. See Rare, Small, Lean. 

Thing done — fact ; act, action, deed ; feat, 
exploit, achievement. See Performance. 

Think — judge, conclude, imagine, suppose, 
conceive, opine, fancy, muse, ruminate, 
meditate, reflect, call to mind, cogitate, 
consider, deliberate, contemplate, pon- 
der ; believe, deem ; guess, conjecture, 
surmise, divine. See Fancy, Count. 

Thought — idea, conception, imagination, 
perception, notion, fancy, conceit; re- 
flection, consideration, contemplation, 
meditation, cogitation, deliberation, 
opinion, judgment, supposition ; design, 
purpose : solicitude, care, concern. 
See Conceit, Judgment, Opinion, Care, 
Whim. 

Thoughtful— full of thought, contempla- 
tive, meditative, reflective, mindful, 
considerate, deliberate, deliberative, at- 
tentive, careful, circumspect, war}', ad- 
vised, discreet. See Careful, Watchful, 
Mind. 

Throw— See Cast, Send. 

Thrust — See Intrude. 

Tidings — See News. 

Tie— See Gird, Band, Knot. 

TIME — period, age, date ; duration, season, 
era, epoch ; repetition, doubling. 

Timely — seasonable, opportune. See "Un- 
timely. 

Tire — See Weary. 

Tired — fatigued, wearied, harassed, ex- 
hausted. See Weary. 

Tongue — See Language, Speech. 

TOOL — See Instrument. 

TOP— See Height. 

Trace — See Mark. 

Trade — business, traffic, barter, dealing, 



30 



354 



THE ART OF PBOSE COMPOSITION. 



commerce, merchandise, exchange, 
truckage; occupation. See Business, 
Interchange, Merchandise, Change. 

TRANSITORY — passing, fleeting, temporary, 
transient, evanescent, momentary, 
speedily vanishing, quickly passing 
away, fading. See Time, Vanish, 
Mortal. 

Transparent — pervious, pellucid, diaph- 
anous, translucent, transpicuous, lim- 
pid. See Clear, Bright. 

Travel— See Co. 

Treatment — management, manipulation; 
usage; entertainment. See Use. 

Tremble — See Shake, Fear. 

Trembling — tremor, trepidation, quaking, 
shaking with fear, shivering. See Fear, 
Shake. 

Trial — experiment ; experience ; test. See 
Test, Attempt, Proof, Try. 

Trick— See Entangle. 

Trick — artifice, chicane, stratagem, cheat, 
cheating, wile, fraud, cozenage, juggle, 
finesse, sleight, legerdemain, deception. 
See Cheat, Cunning, Shift, Jest. 

Trifling — trivial, petty, frivolous, futile, 
unimportant, insignificant, immaterial, 
useless, inept, unfit, inconsiderable, 
light, slight, worthless. See Idle, 
Vain. 

Trouble— See Grieve, Hurt. 

Trouble — Troubles — disturbance, agi- 
tation, commotion, perplexity, distress, 
affliction, suffering, adversity, calamity, 
misfortune ; molestation, inconvenience, 
annoyance, uneasiness, vexation; diffi- 
culties, embarrassments, perplexities, 
vexations, cares, anxieties, disquietudes; 
sorrow, misery. See Agitation, Misfor- 
tune, Care, Difficulty, Pain, Vexation, 
Darkness. 

Troublesome — molesting, annoying, irk- 
some, disquieting, disturbing, harass- 
ing, perplexing, afflictive, vexatious. 
See Wearisome. 

True — See Sincere. 

Trunk— See Body. 

Trust— See Belief, Confidence. 

Truth — veracity ; honesty, virtue, faith- 
fulness, fidelity, constancy ; fact, realty, 
conformity. See Faithfulness, Honesty, 
Maxim, Doctrine. 

Try— See Trial, Attempt, Tempt. 

Tumble — roll, fall, roll down, drop, sink. 

Tumult — commotion, disturbance, agita- 
tion, riot, broil, row, affray, uproar, 



confusion, bustle, stir, convulsion. See 
Insurrection, Quarrel, Trouble. 

TUMULTUOUS — disorderly, tumultuary, 
agitated, restless, unquiet, irregular, 
noisy, disturbed, confused, promiscuous, 
unruly, ungovernable, turbulent, vio- 
lent; seditious, mutinous, rebellious, 
insurgent, riotous. See Insurrection, 
Rebellious, Confused, Loud, Hasty. 

Turn— See Change, Shift. 

Twig— See Shoot. 

Twist — contort, writhe; wreathe, wind, 
encircle, twine, twirl, form, weave, 
bend, turn, wrest, wrench, swing ; per- 
vert, distort. See Entangle, Move 
round, Crooked. 

Type— See Mark, Letter. 

Umpire — See Judge. 

Unbelief — incredulity, infidelity, disbe- 
lief, distrust. See Belief. 

Unbounded — boundless, infinite, unlim- 
ited, interminable, unchecked, uncon- 
trolled, unrestrained. See End, without. 

Unbury — exhume, exhumate, disinter. 
See Rise, Bury. 

Uncertain, be — waver, fluctuate, undu- 
late, oscillate, vacillate ; doubt, hesitate. 
See Wave, Doubted, not to be. 

Uncommon — not common, not usual, rare, 
scarce, unique, choice, singular. See 
Rare. 

Understand — comprehend, know, con- 
ceive, apprehend, appreciate. See 
Know. 

Understanding — intellect, intelligence, 
judgment, faculty, knowledge, compre- 
hension, apprehension, conception, per- 
ception. See Judgment, Knowledge, 
Sense. 

Undetermined— not determined, unset- 
tled, undecided, indeterminate, irreso- 
lute, unresolved, unsteady, wavering, 
fluctuating, doubtful, hesitating. See 
Changeable, Uncertain, be. 

Uneasiness — restlessness, want of ease, 
disquiet, disquietude ; solicitude, anxi- 
ety, care. See Care, Trouble. 

Unequal— See Equal. 

Unfaithful — faithless, perfidious, treach 
erous; undutiful, disloyal; neglectful. 
See Faithless, Neglect. 

Unfold — open folds, unravel, expand, 
spread out; develop; disclose, reveal, 
divulge, declare, tell. See Explain, 
Spread, Declare. 



APPENDIX II. ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



355 



UNHAPPY — wretched, miserable, unfortu- 
nate, unlucky, calamitous, evil, dis- 
tressed, afflicted. See Pitiable. 

Unimportant — immaterial, insignificant. 
See Trifling. 

Universal— See Whole, All. 

Unjust — not just, inequitable, unfair, 
dishonest, iniquitous, knavish, roguish, 
wrongful. See Iniquity, Wicked, Hon- 
esty, Justice. 

UNLIKE — not like, dissimilar; different, 
diverse; separate, distinct. See Sep- 
arate. 

Unrelenting — relentless, implacable, in- 
exorable, hard, cruel. See Appeased, 
not to be, Cruel, Deadly. 

Unsettle — unfix, unhinge, make uncer- 
tain or fluctuating, disconcert. See 
Order, put out of. 

Unspeakable: — that can not be uttered or 
expressed, ineffable, inexpressible, un- 
utterable. See Speak. 

Untimely — premature, inopportune, un- 
seasonable, ill-timed. See Timely, 
Time. 

Unwilling — not willing, loth, disinclined, 
reluctant, backward, averse. See Ob- 
stinate, Averse. 

Upright— See Right. 

Uprightness — perpendicular erection ; 
rectitude, integrity, honesty. See 
Honesty, Justice. 

Use: — usefulness, utility, advantage, bene- 
fit, profit, avail, service, serviceableness ; 
employment, practice, custom, usage. 
See Benefit, Profitable, Custom, Treat- 
ment, Apply. 

Usurp — See Assume falsely, Take. 

UTTER — speak, pronounce, articulate, ex- 
press; disclose, discover, divulge, pub- 
lish. See Speak, Publish, Call out. 

Uttered — spoken, pronounced ; disclosed, 
published; by mouth or voice, oral, 
verbal, vocal. 

Vain— empty, unreal; worthless,, idle, 
useless, abortive, fruitless, ineffectual; 
conceited, proud, self -conceited, opin- 
ionative, opiniated, opinioned, self- 
opinioned, egotistical ; showy, ostenta- 
tious; light, inconstant; unsatisfying; 
false, deceitful, spurious. See Proud, 
Idle, Empty, Foolish, Conceit, Showy, 
Spurious. 

Vale — valley, dale, delL dingle. 

Valor— See Courage. 



VALUE — worth, price, rate; estimation, 
account, importance, efficacy, apprecia- 
tion ; appraisement or apprizement, val- 
uation, assessment. See Rate, Worth. 

VALUE — estimate, rate, apprize or ap- 
praise, assess, compute, calculate ; prize, 
esteem, respect, regard, appreciate. 
See Rate, Respect. 

Valuable — having value or worth, pre- 
cious, costly, estimable, worthy. See 
Worthy. 

Vanish — disappear, pass away from sight ; 
flit. See Transitory. 

Vanquish— See Overcome. 

VAUNTING — boasting, glorying, vainglory, 
ostentation, display, parade, vapor, van- 
ity, arrogance, rodomontade. See 
Boaster. 

Veil— See Hide. 

Vengeance — See Punish, Assert. 

Vest — See Covering. 

Veteran— See Old. 

Vex — See Incommode. 

Vexation — chagrin, mortification, teasing 
trouble, uneasiness. See Wearisome, 
Trouble. 

Vibrate— See Shake. 

Vice— See Crime. 

Victuals— £e6 Food. 

Ym—See Emulous. 

View — See Look, See, Glance. 

Vigorous— See Active, Strong. 

Village — See Countryman, House. 

VILLAIN — vassal, servant, subject, depend- 
ant; wretch, scoundrel, rascal. See 
Follower, Blockhead. 

VIOLATION — law-breaking, infringement, 
infraction, transgression, trespass ; rape. 
See Sin, Injury. 

Violent — forcible, vehement, outrageous, 
boisterous, turbulent, fierce, furious, 
impetuous, passionate, assailant, See 
Cruel, Hot, Force. 

Viper — See Serpent. 

Vision — sight ; appearance, apparition, 
phantom, specter, ghost. See Ghost, 
Ghostly. 

Voice — See Uttered. 

Void— See Empty space. 

VOTE — suffrage, voice. 

Vow — See Pray. 

Vowel — See Letter. 

Wages — See Pay, Reward. 
Wail — See Mourn, Grieve. 
Walk— See Go. 



356 



THE ART OF PROSE COMPOSITION. 



Wander — rove, ramble, stroll, roam, 
range ; leave home, depart, migrate ; 
digress, diverge, deviate, err, stray ; be 
delirious. See Eamble, Go, Eccentric, 
Joint, out of. 

WANT — deficiency, defect ; need, lack, ne- 
cessity ; poverty, penury, indigence. See 
Scarcity, Necessity, Poorness, Poor. 

Wanton — See Lust, Loose. 

Warm — See Heat. 

Warm — cordial, hearty, sincere, zealous, 
ardent, fervent, intense; keen, irrita- 
ble. See Affectionate, Hearty, Zealous, 
Keen, Hot, Enthusiast. 

Warmth — warmness, gentle heat, ferven- 
cy, fervor, zeal, ardor, intensity, cor- 
diality, vehemence, heat, glow; ear- 
nestness, eagerness ; excitement, anima- 
tion. See Heat, Eagerness, Life. 

Warning — previous notice, monition, ad- 
monition, caution. See Caution. 

Warrant — See Answerable for, Promise. 

WARY — cautious, circumspect, watchful, 
guarded, scrupulous, timorously pru- 
dent. See Watchful, Careful, Aware. 

WASTE — devastation, spoil, ravage, deso- 
lation, havoc, destruction ; squandering, 
dissipation ; consumption, loss, useless 
expense ; desolate or uncultivated coun- 
try ; ground or space unoccupied. See 
Plunder, Loss, Destruction. 

WASTE — cause to be lost, expend uselessly, 
squander, dissipate, lavish, consume, 
spend, use ; destroy, desolate ; wear out, 
exhaust. See Lavish, Spend, Destroy, 
Desolate, Corrupt. 

Wasting — lavishing, dissipating, desolat- 
ing, laying waste ; decay, consumption, 
decline, phthisis ; perishing, fading, de- 
cadence. 

Watchful — vigilant, attentive, careful, 
heedful, observant, cautious, circum- 
spect, wakeful. See Careful, Thought- 
ful, Wary, Aware. 

Water— See Soak. 

Wave, Waver— See Pause, Uncertain, 
be. 

Wave— billow, surge, breaker. See Sea. 

WAY — passing; passage, road, highway, 
lane, street; method, system, mode, 
course, means, manner, form, fashion. 
See System, G-ap, Opening, Means, 
Course, Custom. 

WEAK — feeble, infirm, piping, weakly, en- 
feebled, debilitated, enervated, flaccid, 
limber, lax ; easily broken ; soft, pliant ; 



low, small. See Broken, easily, Low, 
Poolish. 

Weaken— debilitate, enfeeble, enervate, 
effeminate, invalidate. See Droop. 

WEAKNESS— feebleness, debility, languor, 
infirmity, unhealthiness, imbecility, 
frailty, frailness ; foolishness ; in the 
plural, defeat, failing, fault, foible. 
See Power, want of, Fault, Folly. 

Weapon — See Arm, Covering. 

Wearisome — causing weariness, tiresome, 
tedious, prolix, fatiguing, exhausting, 
reducing, troublesome, annoying, vexa- 
tious. See Troublesome. 

Weary — reduce, exhaust, tire, fatigue, 
harass, dispirit, jade, wear out, subdue; 
annoy, vex. See Worry. 

Weep — See Mourn. 

Weigh— See Think. 

Weight — See Burden, Importance, Heavy. 

Well— See Good. 

Wet— See Moist, Soak. 

Wheat— See Food. 

Whim — sudden turn or start of the mind, 
freak, fancy, maggot, caprice, prank. 
See Conceit, Thought, Frolic, Lightness. 

White— See Pale. 

Whiten — bleach, blanch. 

Whole — all, total, integral; complete, 
entire, perfect, sound, well, undivided ; 
full. See All, Wholly. 

Wholly — totally, completely, entirely, 
perfectly, fully. 

Wicked — evil, sinful, immoral, impious, 
profane, irreligious, depraved; unjust, 
iniquitous, nefarious ; in a high degree, 
atrocious, heinous, flagrant, flagitious, 
facinorous, villainous, enormous, mon- 
strous. See Abandoned, Corrupt, Un- 
just, Iniquity, Sin. 

Wide — See Large. 

Wife — See Marriage. 

Wild— See Cruel. 

Will — See Disposition, Pleasure, Choice, 
Kindness, Malice. 

Will — testament ; codicil. 

Winding — See Crooked. 

Wipe — See Clean. 

Wise: — having knowledge, sage, sagacious, 
sapient, discerning ; discreet, judicious, 
prudent ; learned, knowing, skillful, 
dexterous ; godly, pious. See Godly, 
Ignorant. 

Wisely — prudently, judiciously, discreetly, 
with wisdom, sagely, sagaciously, skill- 
fully, cautiously, circumspectly. 



A 2*J 



APPENDIX II. — ENGLISH SYNONYMS. 



357 



Wish — See Hope, Choose. 

Wish for — desire, covet, long for, hanker 
after, sigh for ; request, entreat, solicit, 
beg, ask ; aspire to. See Beg, Aim. 

Witty— £<?e Odd. 

Wonder — surprise, amazement, astonish- 
ment, admiration ; miracle, marvel, 
prodigy, strange thing, monster. 

Wont— See Custom. 

Work — employment, occupation, labor, 
toil, drudgery, operation ; fabric, manu- 
facture; action, deed, feat, achieve- 
ment ; composition, book. See Opera- 
tion, Accomplishment, Performance, 
Pain. 

WORRY — bore, tease, trouble, vex, harass, 
perplex, distract, disturb, annoy, con- 
fuse, confound : fatigue ; tear, mangle ; 
taunt, tantalize, torment. See Trouble, 
Mangle, Displease, Plague. 

Worse, make — deteriorate, impair; in- 
jure, damage. See Corrupt, Injure. 

Worth — value, excellence, perfection ; 
merit, desert, goodness, usefulness ; vir- 
tue, morality. See Value, Morals. 

Worthy — See Valuable, Praiseworthy. 



Wrath— See Anger. 

Wretch — See Miser, Unhappy. 

Writer — penman, scribe, clerk, copyist, 

transcriber, secretary, amanuensis ; 

lawyer ; author, classic, editor. 
Writhe — See Twist. 
Wrong— See Wicked, HI. 

Year— See Time. 

Yield — See Give up. 

Yielding — producing, affording ; conced- 
ing, resigning, surrendering, allowing ; 
flexible, accommodating ; compliance, 
submission, deference. 

Young — youthful, juvenile, infantile, in- 
fantine ; puerile, boyish, childish. 

YOUTH — juvenility, adolescence, puerility ; 
boyhood, childhood, infancy. 

ZEA x, — ardor, heat, fervency, fervor, earn 
estness, warmth, intensity, eagerness, 
avidity, enthusiasm. See Eagerness, 
Warmth, Heat. 

Zealous — ardent, earnest, warm, fervent, 
solicitous, anxious, intense. See Warm, 
Affectionate. 



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